World Cup 2026 July 1 Matches: Crypto's $2B Prediction Bet

July 1's knockout slate starts with England vs RD Congo in Atlanta and Belgium vs Senegal in Seattle. The US faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the San Francisco Bay Area at 8 PM ET. Broadcasts run across Telemundo and Peacock.

This tournament is the first where FIFA has a crypto exchange as an official partner. Kraken signed on June 9. FIFA Collect, the organization's digital collectibles platform, runs on Avalanche. The same infrastructure supports a tokenized ticketing system that lets FIFA track resale and limit scalping through on-chain seat verification.

The expanded 48-team format across the US, Canada, and Mexico amplifies the exposure of these crypto integrations.

Prediction market volumes tied to World Cup 2026 have exceeded $2 billion. That market barely existed during the 2022 tournament.

Fan tokens within the Chiliz ecosystem have seen elevated trading activity as teams advance. Argentina's $ARG token, for example, has moved in line with match results.

For traders, two areas stand out. Chiliz (CHZ) and related fan tokens will see more volatility as knockout rounds eliminate teams. Prediction market platforms and their native tokens could benefit from sustained volume through the final on July 19.

Fan token markets are thin. A few large holders can swing prices. The correlation to match outcomes makes them purely event-driven. Once the tournament ends, historical patterns show trading activity drops sharply.

Real engagement will show up in prediction market volumes. If they hold above $2 billion through the semi-finals, the crypto-sports integration has staying power. If they plateau, the story remains a novelty.