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The biggest World Cup in history is also shaping up to be the most controversial. FIFA’s 2026 tournament, spread across 16 cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico, expanded the field from 32 to 48 teams and added 104 matches to the schedule.
Dynamic ticket pricing has pushed some final-match tickets to $11,000. State attorneys general have launched investigations, and lawsuits are piling up. Meanwhile, US travel restrictions affecting nationals from 39 countries have made it physically impossible for some fans, and even some staff, to attend matches on American soil.
The $11,000 seat and the empty one next to it
The backlash has been loud enough to attract legal scrutiny, with multiple state attorneys general examining whether the pricing practices violate consumer protection laws.
By December 2025, the Trump administration’s entry restrictions covered nationals from 39 countries. For fans from Iran and Haiti, among others, attending matches in the US isn’t a question of budget. It’s a question of border policy. Iran qualified for the tournament, meaning a national team could theoretically play in a country where its own supporters are barred from entering.
Crypto steps onto the pitch
On June 9, 2026, Kraken was named FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter, a partnership that includes promotional events and fan experiences across North America and Europe.
Avalanche’s blockchain technology is powering FIFA Collect, a platform for digital collectibles and a new ticketing model. The goal is straightforward: use blockchain’s transparency to combat the ticket scalping and fraud that have plagued previous tournaments. Every ticket on a blockchain has a verifiable chain of custody. Scalpers can’t counterfeit what’s cryptographically secured, and resale rules can be baked directly into smart contracts.
Prediction markets go mainstream
During June 2026 alone, World Cup-related prediction market trading volume exceeded $50 billion. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket have dominated activity, turning match outcomes into tradeable contracts.
For Polymarket, which gained significant attention during the 2024 US presidential election cycle, the World Cup represents a chance to prove that its model works beyond political prediction. Kalshi operates as a regulated exchange in the US, benefiting from CFTC oversight in a space where regulatory clarity remains rare.
What this means for crypto investors
Kraken’s FIFA partnership validates the sponsorship playbook that exchanges have been testing with smaller sports properties. The Avalanche integration suggests that layer-1 blockchains are finding enterprise use cases that don’t require retail users to understand gas fees or wallet management. Platforms that have already secured regulatory approval, like Kalshi, are better positioned to weather regulatory scrutiny than their decentralized counterparts.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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