Which National Team Fan Tokens Are Set for the 2026 World Cup?

The final round of World Cup playoffs has concluded, and we now know the entire list of participating nations for this summer’s expanded tournament across Canada, Mexico, and the USA.

Among other midweek matches, Italy fell on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina, making them the first ever World Cup-winning nation to miss qualification for three consecutive tournaments. A day after the game, the Italian National Team Fan Token ($ITA) was down 34.9% for the preceding 24 hours and 46% for the week.

Curiously, the conclusion of the qualifiers had an effect on teams that had already qualified. A day later, the Portugal Fan Token ($POR) had recorded 11.4% 24hr gains. National team tokens for Brazil ($BFT) and Argentina ($ARG) also posted increases of 9.1% and 7.8% respectively. Was this a response to the demise of one of the probable favourites, four-time World Cup winners Italy?

Whatever the case may be, the line-up is now set in stone. So let’s take a look at some of the contenders to lift the Jules Rimet trophy come July 29, consider what’s been happening with their Fan Tokens, and ponder their path to football immortality.

Argentina: Can Messi Spearhead a Repeat?

We cannot start anywhere else. Four years ago, Argentina defeated France in one of the all-time great World Cup finals, marking their first win since 1986, and they are among a cluster of nations expected to go deep at this year’s tournament.

However, history is against Argentina: only two nations have defended a World Cup, Uruguay in 1950 and Brazil in 1962. Moreover, talisman and captain Lionel Messi – who has not yet confirmed his participation – will turn 39 during his sixth appearance at the tournament.

Of course, the World Cup holders have plenty of firepower at their disposal, including Atlético Madrid ($ATM) striker Julián Alvarez and Inter Milan ($INTER) hitman Lautaro Martínez.

If Messi does feature at the World Cup and avoid injury, Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and appearance holder might surpass German Miroslav Klose’s record for World Cup goals (16). Messi needs three to draw level.

On the Fan Token front, $ARG has experienced mixed fortunes over the last 12 months, with three notable spikes in May, August, and January. On Jan. 13 it hit a 12-month high of $1.23, although that figure pales in comparison to the value of $6.36 reached when Argentina won the last World Cup four years ago.

Between Mar. 27 (when Argentina beat Mauritania 2-1 in a friendly) and Apr. 1, $ARG climbed 19.3%. Three group stage games await in June, against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, so the token is definitely one to watch. Might it rise higher if Messi definitively confirms his intention to lead his nation one final time?

Portugal: Last Chance Saloon for CR7

The 2026 World Cup is likely to be the last for both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and as such, it’s the final opportunity for CR7 to claim an elusive World Cup. 

Now aged 41, Ronaldo retains the Portuguese captaincy and, like Messi, is his nation’s all-time leading goalscorer and appearance holder. Currently on a quest to become the first player to officially score 1,000 career goals (he’s on 965, having hit 121 in 137 matches for current club Al Nassr), Ronaldo will be desperate to get his hands on the iconic golden trophy.

The Portugal National Team Fan Token ($POR) is backed by relatively strong trading activity, with 24hr volume hovering around $250,000, having climbed north of $450k as recently as last month. Despite the token’s value surging 72.2% between Jan. 1 and Jan. 14, it has slid 8.3% over the last 30 days.

Portugal appear to have a very favourable draw, as they line up in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia. Can Ronaldo and his teammates seize the day?

Spain: The Bookies’ Favourite

Reigning European champions Spain are the current bookies’ favourite to win this year’s World Cup. Little wonder given the embarrassment of riches in the team, including Barcelona ($BAR) quartet Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Pedri, and Dani Olmo.

Spain is one of only eight nations to have won the World Cup, which they achieved back in 2010, and they also claimed the 2008 Euros. As such, they are one of the most decorated national teams of the last two decades.

Despite 2022 being a difficult year for global markets, the Spain National Football Team Fan Token ($SNFT) set its ATH of $0.803 in September of that year. This January, it hit a yearly high of $0.061 although things have been choppy in recent weeks.

$SNFT is a low-volume token with 24hr trade volumes reliably below $100,000. But this could well change as hype builds for the World Cup, where Spain are drawn against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and two-time winners Uruguay.

Brazil: The Weight of History

Brazil is the most successful national team in history, having lifted the World Cup on five occasions. However, the last was in 2002 – the era of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Roberto Carlos – so they’re by no means odds-on to claim the spoils this summer. 

Nevertheless, Brazil are fifth favourites with bookmakers and retain a number of elite players, including Real Madrid forward Vinícius, Paris Saint-Germain ($PSG) captain Marquinhos, and Barcelona’s Raphinha.

Like several of its contemporaries, the Brazil National Football Team Fan Token ($BFT) rose sharply at the turn of the year, gaining 110% between Jan. 1 and Jan. 13. It’s largely tracked sideways in recent weeks, though. Brazil have two more friendlies lined up, against Panama and Egypt, before they open their WC campaign against Morocco on Jun. 13. (Scotland and Haiti complete their group.)

Expect trade volume and token value to reflect Brazil’s momentum as the tournament unfolds.

Croatia: Modrić Leads the Dark Horse

Croatia have performed extremely well in the most recent World Cups, finishing third in 2022 and second in 2018. Ranked 11th in FIFA’s latest rankings, they are captained by legendary midfielder Luka Modrić, now plying his trade with AC Milan ($ACM) in Serie A.

Croatia were on a nine-game unbeaten run until they lost 3-1 to Brazil in a friendly match on Apr. 1, and their squad blends experience (Modrić, Ivan Perišić) and youth (Luka Vušković, Petar Sučić). Despite an underwhelming performance at the last Euros, they’ll expect to progress to the business end of the World Cup, where they are drawn against England, Panama, and Ghana.

As for the Croatia Football Federation Fan Token ($VATRENI), it boasts a current value of $1.61, making it one of the highest-value Fan Tokens in all of SportFi. However, its volumes are a mere fraction of those of other Fan Tokens listed here. 

Priced above $2 as recently as December, $VATRENI could pick up steam as the tournament draws closer – and particularly if Croatia upset England on Jun. 17.

Well, there you have it: five national teams with Fan Tokens, all of whom have a realistic chance of going all the way this summer. Who are you backing?