Crypto Kicks Back: FIFA World Cup 2026 Goes Crypto-Free

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is in full swing, with the quarterfinal stage now underway. The tournament, featuring 48 teams across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, has delivered on its promise of more games, storylines, and eyeballs.

Despite the expanded format, there's one notable absence: crypto. Unlike the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where blockchain partnerships and fan tokens were rampant, this year's tournament seems to have left them out in the cold.

The contrast is stark when comparing the current situation with the 2022 event. Back then, companies like Crypto.com plastered their logos on referee jerseys, Algorand was FIFA's official blockchain partner, and Binance ran fan token campaigns.

However, that enthusiasm didn't translate into adoption, as the bear market and FTX collapse took a toll on fan tokens and NFT collections tied to the tournament. This year, it seems sports entities have learned from those lessons and are taking a more cautious approach.