The 2026 FIFA World Cup is barely into its group stage and already 11 players have scored two or more goals in a single match.

The expanded format, which ballooned from 32 to 48 teams across 104 matches hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is producing lopsided scorelines and breakout performances at a pace that has prediction markets and fan token platforms working overtime.

Goals, goals, and more goals

Early matches have averaged more than three goals per game. Lionel Messi delivered a hat-trick during group play, tying all-time World Cup records. Matheus Cunha also bagged multiple goals against Haiti.

Kraken, Polymarket, and the crypto World Cup

Kraken was named FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, 2026, two days before the tournament kicked off. That makes it the first crypto company to hold an official FIFA World Cup sponsorship.

The partnership positions Kraken alongside legacy sponsors like Coca-Cola and Adidas. Expect activations and promotional campaigns tied to match days and tournament milestones throughout the competition, which runs through July 19.

Polymarket volumes exceeded $2 billion pre-tournament on player stats and match outcomes alone. That figure captures wagers on everything from group-stage results to individual golden boot contenders.

Fan tokens and the scam problem

Socios.com, which has partnered with national football federations and major clubs, offers tokens that give holders voting rights on minor team decisions and access to exclusive content.

FIFA has also explored blockchain partnerships with Avalanche for digital collectibles, though no official tournament token has been launched.

Solana-based memecoins branded around national teams and individual players have proliferated since the tournament began. TRM Labs has flagged risks associated with these fan-branded memecoins, warning that many are outright scams designed to exploit World Cup hype.

What this means for crypto investors

Prediction market volumes in the billions, an official exchange sponsorship, and blockchain-based collectible partnerships all point to a relationship between sports and digital assets that has moved well past the experimental phase.

Socios-linked tokens have established track records and at least some utility. The broader fan token ecosystem, especially the Solana memecoin corner, is where the risk concentrates. The absence of an official FIFA token means there’s no authoritative digital asset for the tournament, which leaves a vacuum that scammers are happy to fill.