Directly targeting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, how is Chiliz planning the next phase of fan tokens?

As the World Cup approaches, Chiliz is transforming the enthusiasm of billions of fans worldwide into tradable digital assets and financial infrastructure on the blockchain.

Sports blockchain platform Chiliz has unveiled a new three-phase roadmap, outlining a detailed strategy for the next leap in its ecosystem—particularly around the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. This roadmap marks a significant strategic shift for Chiliz, transitioning from a fan engagement platform to a global sports industry financial infrastructure layer. The company plans to announce its first U.S. market partners in Q1 2026 and launch national team fan tokens in the summer, directly targeting the global wave of fans driven by the World Cup.

Strategic Transformation

On its eighth anniversary, Chiliz released a guiding document called the “Chiliz 2030 Declaration.” The core of this declaration is a clear commitment to evolve from a tool platform focused on “fan interaction” into a “financial infrastructure” layer for the global sports industry. This shift is based on a vast market vision: by 2030, the tokenizable real-world assets in the sports industry are expected to reach a scale of $1 trillion.

Chiliz 2026 Roadmap. Source: Chiliz 2030 Declaration

Since launching its first fan token in 2018, Chiliz has generated over $700 million in new revenue for sports partners and established collaborations with more than 70 sports organizations worldwide. Now, it aims to extend its reach into the larger sports finance sector.

Core Elements of the Roadmap

To seize the historic opportunity of the World Cup, Chiliz’s roadmap is structured around three clear and interconnected strategic pillars.

U.S. Market Return and National Team Tokens. After years of dormancy due to regulatory uncertainties, Chiliz officially announced its return to the U.S. market in 2026. The company has allocated between $50 million and $100 million to support its North American expansion. The first U.S. partner is expected to be announced in Q1 2026. More notably, Chiliz plans to launch fan tokens tied to national teams in summer 2026, around the World Cup opening. Unlike club tokens that mainly attract core supporters, national team tokens aim to engage a broader, event-driven fan base during the World Cup, potentially reaching hundreds of millions of users.

Full-Chain Interoperability and DeFi Integration. In Q1 2026, Chiliz will initiate a cross-chain plan, bridging its fan tokens to major external blockchains like Ethereum and BNB Chain via cross-chain infrastructure. This means fan tokens will no longer be limited to the Chiliz native ecosystem but can enter the wider DeFi space for trading, lending, collateralization, and more, significantly increasing their liquidity and utility.

Gamified Token Economy and Value Capture. The roadmap introduces a revolutionary “fan token gameplay” mechanism: linking token supply to actual match results. When a team wins, a certain percentage of related fan tokens will be burned; when it loses, new tokens will be minted. This design deeply combines the unpredictability of sports competitions with the scarcity principles of token economics. Additionally, Chiliz will launch a permanent value accrual mechanism for its native token CHZ in Q2 2026: 10% of all fan token revenues generated within the ecosystem will be used to buy back and burn CHZ on the open market.

Price Performance

According to Gate.io data, as of February 10, 2026, Chiliz’s market performance and forecast data are as follows:

Market analysis offers varied predictions for Chiliz’s future price. Some note that Chiliz experienced over 380% growth during the 2022 World Cup.

Given that the 2026 World Cup is jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, this presents a “home advantage” for Chiliz’s efforts to expand in North America, potentially providing a significant boost. Meanwhile, technical analysis indicates recent signs of waning short-term momentum, and market sentiment remains divided. Cryptocurrency prices are influenced by many complex factors, and past performance and forecasts do not guarantee future results.

From Engagement to Finance

Chiliz’s long-term vision extends far beyond fan voting and rights exchange. Starting in 2027, its roadmap will focus on tokenizing real-world assets in the sports sector. This includes converting club broadcasting rights, sponsorship revenues, intellectual property, and even minority equity stakes—traditionally illiquid assets—into tradable on-chain tokens. The goal is to create a hybrid asset class that combines practicality with asset income rights, allowing ordinary fans to invest and share in the commercial success of their supported teams.

CEO Alexandre Dreyfus states that clearer regulations, institutional capital inflows into tokenized assets, and the advent of real-world assets collectively create an unprecedented opportunity.

Future Outlook

Chiliz’s 2026 roadmap is a meticulously planned deployment, with all major upgrades and market expansions centered around one key event: the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This global sporting event is expected to attract over 5 billion viewers and generate unprecedented commercial and emotional energy.

For the crypto world, Chiliz’s efforts are highly significant. It is building a bridge to connect the trillion-dollar traditional sports economy with the emerging blockchain and token economy. If successful, fan tokens will evolve from mere souvenirs or voting tools into a new, globally accessible asset class driven by sports passion and with deep financial attributes.

Ultimately, the story of sports blockchain is not just about technology or finance—it’s about the timeless human emotions: support for teams, the desire for victory, and shared identity.