FIFA President Gianni Infantino and former U.S. President Donald Trump presented the 2026 World Cup trophy to Spain at Trump Tower in New York. The ceremony took place on July 18, 2026.
This was the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and the first co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament concluded on July 20.
Kraken served as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. Prediction markets saw monthly volumes exceed $50 billion during the event, surpassing traditional sportsbooks.
FIFA integrated the Avalanche blockchain into its ticketing system to combat scalping. The organization also released FIFA+ Collect NFTs, continuing its blockchain strategy that began with Algorand in 2022.
In February 2026, Infantino stated FIFA was exploring the creation of a dedicated FIFA token, describing it as a potential global fan currency. FIFA has approximately five billion fans worldwide.
The strong volume in prediction markets indicates maturation in on-chain betting infrastructure capable of handling significant liquidity. FIFA's consistent move toward blockchain integration suggests a deliberate digital asset strategy.