The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup has produced major upsets, with traditional powerhouses Uruguay, Germany, and Belgium all eliminated in the group stage.
Belgium's golden generation saw its run end. Uruguay, a two-time champion, failed to find consistency. In contrast, Cape Verde advanced without a single win, drawing its way into knockout history.
The drama has supercharged crypto prediction markets. Trading volumes linked to the tournament surpassed $2 billion before kickoff, with the outright winner market on ADI PredictStreet approaching $1.7 billion. A single day saw $818 million in trading.
Kraken made history on June 9, 2026, becoming FIFA's Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. The deal spans North America and Europe, featuring fan engagement and ticket giveaways.
World Cup-themed digital assets have emerged, including fan tokens in the Chiliz ecosystem and unofficial meme tokens. Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs has flagged early scams tied to these assets, though tracked losses remain minimal.
For investors, Chainlink's oracle services for FIFA's official prediction market represent a major real-world blockchain use case. Meme tokens are expected to collapse after the tournament, while fan tokens' value remains tied to outcomes and public attention.