Kraken Becomes Official Crypto Exchange for FIFA World Cup 2026

Kraken Becomes Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for FIFA World Cup 2026

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has announced a partnership with FIFA, becoming the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The deal was revealed on Tuesday, just two days before the start of the quadrennial soccer tournament.

The sponsorship will cover the seven-week competition, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The upcoming World Cup is set to be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches played across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Organizers anticipate a cumulative global audience exceeding 6 billion viewers, a scale Kraken is leveraging for significant platform exposure.

“Football has always crossed borders. So does crypto,” said Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi in a statement. “For most of history, the best markets were open only to the few. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is where we show everyone else what they’ve been missing: an open, borderless financial system that anyone can join with a phone in their pocket. This isn’t a future concept. It’s here.”

Kraken’s involvement with FIFA will commence on Wednesday with a multi-country, multi-city countdown concert held on the eve of the opening match. The San Francisco-based exchange, established in 2011 and operating in over 190 countries, also plans to introduce “fan-focused product experiences” throughout North America and Europe during the tournament.

“Innovation has always played a central role in how FIFA evolves and enhances the fan experience,” stated FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Gai. “As we prepare to welcome the world to the biggest FIFA World Cup in history, we are delighted to partner with Kraken, an organization that shares our commitment to innovation and technology.”

This new agreement expands Kraken’s existing sports sponsorship portfolio, which includes partnerships with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, Spanish side Atlético de Madrid, German club RB Leipzig, and the Williams Racing Formula 1 team.

The announcement comes amid warnings from law enforcement agencies about crypto scams targeting soccer fans looking to purchase World Cup tickets or merchandise.

In April, FIFA announced a separate partnership with ADI Predictstreet, a platform built on the ADI Chain network and focused on the Middle East/South Africa (MENA) market, designating it as the official prediction market platform for the tournament.