The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, and with it comes the biggest test yet for crypto’s infiltration of global sports. Kraken became FIFA’s first-ever official crypto exchange supporter on June 9, marking a milestone that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

The Xhaka case study: transfer buzz, zero signal

Consider the curious case of Granit Xhaka. The Swiss midfielder, now at Sunderland AFC after his Arsenal years, has been generating plenty of headlines as he leads Switzerland’s World Cup campaign. Chelsea reportedly had an £8 million bid for Xhaka rejected in late June or early July.

Xhaka has Ethereum-based digital cards on Sorare. Panini has released 2026 World Cup NFTs featuring him. The…