The 2026 World Cup Could Usher in the Next Crypto Frenzy

By Mark Gough

The World Cup set to kick off in just a couple of months. 

Ireland didn’t qualify this time. Denmark was a hurdle we just couldn’t get past. But that won’t stop me from tuning in. I’ll still be watching as many games as I can.

Because that’s the nature of global events like this. They capture attention regardless of geography, positioning or participation.

And that’s exactly why they matter from an investment perspective. 

In markets, attention matters. Because when attention concentrates, capital tends to follow.

Crypto as a whole may have begun to move away from hype-driven narratives. But big events like the World Cup could create a resurgence of retail frenzy. Especially when we have … 

A Repeatable Pattern

This kind of attention-driven setup isn’t new. We saw it play out clearly once before. 

Chiliz (CHZ, “D+”) is the world’s only sports blockchain for sports and entertainment. 

It offers Fan Tokens — official digital assets for global sports brands that offer holders “to engage, experience, and impact sports like never before.” 

Here’s how it works …

How CHZ Captures Value

Chiliz powers fan tokens via Socios, enabling sports teams to monetize global fan engagement. The key question from an investor's perspective is simple: Where does the value accrue?

The answer lies in the structure:

• Fan tokens are priced and traded against CHZ

• Users must acquire CHZ to participate

• Increased engagement drives liquidity and volume

Now layer in tokenomics, buybacks and burns tied to ecosystem revenue. That creates a feedback loop and shifts CHZ from a simple utility token … into a reflexive asset tied to ecosystem growth.

Back in 2022, we saw its native token, CHZ, rise from a cycle low around 8 cents in June to approximately 29 cents by November.

That’s a 262% increase in just five months! And it was a move driven largely by anticipation rather than the event itself as users flocked to buy Fan Tokens of their favorite World Cup teams.

But before we use this example as our guide for how high CHZ can go this time, there’s an important nuance here: The 2022 World Cup was held in Qatar. 

Which meant the usual summer window for the World Cup was off the table due to the extreme heat the host country could expect. So, the Cup was pushed to November and December of that year.

It was a shift that had a direct impact on market behavior. Instead of a typical spring-to-summer build-up, the rally extended deeper into the year, effectively stretching the pre-event accumulation phase.

But this year, the schedule returns to normal. Which means the attention cycle is already beginning. 

And it means the speculative phase may be shorter … and positioning could already be underway before most investors notice.

Especially since many may not even know to look. 

Clarity Arrives in the U.S.

One of the biggest overhangs for fan tokens, particularly in the U.S., has always been regulatory uncertainty. And that has created notable headwinds.

But in last month, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission released joint guidance outlining how crypto assets should be classified under U.S. law.

The framework introduced five categories: Digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, stablecoins and digital securities. Fan Tokens were officially classified as a hybrid of digital collectibles and digital tools.

This is more than just semantics. It directly impacts how these assets can be issued, marketed, and integrated within the U.S. sports and financial ecosystem.

For projects like Chiliz, this provides something the market has been waiting for: regulatory clarity. 

And with it comes a smoother path for U.S. franchises, token launches and adoption.

In short, it removes one of the biggest barriers to adoption in the world’s largest sports market.

From Pilot Programs to Execution

This also helps explain the timing of Chiliz’s renewed U.S. push.

Previously, partnerships existed, but full deployment was limited. Through Socios.com, the project has already established early partnerships with the …

• New England Patriots

• New England Revolution

• Brooklyn Nets

• Golden State Warriors

• Los Angeles Lakers

• Memphis Grizzlies

Alongside broader NBA and MLS relationships. Importantly, these were early-stage pilot deals, not fully monetized ecosystems.

Now, though, teams can explore fan tokens without securities ambiguity, and platforms like Socios.com can expand with more confidence.

That’s a meaningful shift. And it’s one we’re starting to see play out.

Starting in Q1 of this year, more fan token launches have been planned. And 10% of all revenue generated from those sales will be allocated to CHZ buybacks and burns. That is, deflationary actions meant to control the supply. 

In short, we’re seeing a shift from focusing on partnership deals to rolling out a real, scalable ecosystem. This is a key transition. Because while partnerships create headlines … activity creates value.

And this growth should get a boost from the upcoming World Cup.

Bigger Picture: Chiliz 2030 Vision

Beyond the short-term catalysts, a longer-term framework is beginning to take shape.

According to the Chiliz 2030 Manifesto, the project is positioning itself as the financial infrastructure layer for global sports, which it refers to as “SportFi.”  

The roadmap outlines a clear evolution: Phase 1 will focus on adoption. Phase 2 on building infrastructure. And Phase 3 on tokenized real-world assets, like stakes in clubs or revenue sharing.

That progression matters. It shifts the narrative from fan tokens as a niche product to a broader opportunity around tokenized sports assets and revenue streams.

The end goal isn’t just engagement, it’s financial exposure. Chiliz is exploring models where fan tokens could be linked to real-world revenues or even represent fractional exposure to franchises.

In a future where Chiliz is successful, fans wouldn’t just engage with their favorite teams. They could build a stake in the economy of their favorite sports franchises.

That’s a very different proposition.

Technical Overview

From a higher timeframe perspective, CHZ is still trading within a multi-year compression structure. In simple terms, the market has been coiling for an extended period.

That matters. Because the longer a range develops, the more significant the eventual breakout tends to be.

And right now, the price is now approaching the upper boundary of a narrowing trading range. That’s not to say it’s about to break out. But it is clearly pressing into resistance near 5 cents.

Momentum is beginning to stabilize.

And that’s typically how accumulation phases develop: Quiet. Controlled. Gradual.

For this to transition from setup to trend, we’ll need to see a clean break and hold above that resistance. Then, follow through volume to take it up to 8 cents. 

Until then, this remains a compression phase with improving structure, not a confirmed breakout.

Fan tokens won’t dominate the narrative … until they do. And when they move, they tend to move quickly. 

That’s why small-cap altcoin plays like this are so speculative. And why they carry so much risk.

But if you have the appetite for this type of opportunity, Chiliz may be worth keeping on your radar. 

It sits at the intersection of emotion, speculation and timing. A tumultuous concoction, and one that could take off.

Best,

Mark Gough

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