Kraken becomes FIFA's first crypto exchange partner as 2026 World Cup kicks off

Kraken has been named FIFA's Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, marking the first formal partnership between a World Cup and a cryptocurrency exchange. The deal aims to boost fan engagement across North America and Europe just days before the tournament's opening weekend. The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, across the US, Mexico, and Canada, expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches. Sweden and Tunisia open Group F on June 14 at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey.

Prediction markets and crypto promotions are surging as Chainlink provides oracle support for on‑chain World Cup bets. MEXC is running a World Cup prediction contest with a prize pool of 1.36 million USDT through July 19. Kalshi and other platforms are also active around World Cup markets. The report notes none of Group F’s teams—Sweden, Tunisia, the Netherlands, or Japan—have official fan tokens, highlighting uneven national‑team crypto adoption.