FIFA World Cup goes to extra time in Vancouver, and crypto is already winning the tournament

Switzerland and Colombia played to a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes at BC Place in Vancouver on July 7, sending their match into extra time. This is the sixth match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to require extra time.

Crypto’s biggest stadium play yet

Kraken was announced as FIFA’s first official crypto exchange partner on June 9. The tournament has projected viewership exceeding six billion globally.

Avalanche powers FIFA Collect, the platform for digital collectibles tied to the tournament. Fans can collect moments, trade them, and engage with the tournament in ways that go beyond simply watching a match.

ADI Predictstreet serves as the official prediction market partner. It runs on Chainlink oracles, meaning the data feeding into its markets is pulled from verified, tamper-resistant sources.

Prediction markets are having their moment

Prediction markets for World Cup events have historically generated over $2 billion in activity, and 2026 volumes are spiking well beyond prior cycles.

Crypto-native sportsbooks like Cloudbet are facilitating token-based wagering throughout the tournament. Coinbase is also in the mix, providing infrastructure for fans who want to engage financially with match outcomes.

What this means for crypto investors

Kraken’s partnership with FIFA gives the exchange a legitimacy boost that no amount of Twitter marketing could replicate. For AVAX, the native token of Avalanche, powering FIFA Collect during a tournament with billions of viewers is the kind of real-world use case that token holders have been waiting for. Chainlink’s oracle integration with prediction markets reinforces its position as the default data verification layer for decentralized applications.

Users are actively minting collectibles on Avalanche, placing predictions through Chainlink-powered oracles, and transacting through Kraken-linked infrastructure. That creates actual on-chain activity, not just brand impressions.

Prediction market volumes spiking past $2 billion suggests meaningful capital rotation into platforms tied to tournament outcomes. The 48-team format guarantees more matches and more extra time scenarios.

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