The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than two months away, and with Canada hosting the event alongside the United States and Mexico, the nation is in the spotlight – not only for the football, but for the games off the field as well.
With football fans from Africa and beyond ready to hit the North American stadiums this summer, online sports betting sites are gearing up to cash in on the wave of interest in sports. And Canada, hosting men’s World Cup football for the first time in its history, is at the centre of that discussion.
The Rise of Crypto Betting
The timing has brought cryptocurrency betting into the spotlight. Cryptocurrencies have gradually transformed how sports fans use betting sites, with quicker payments, reduced costs and the convenience that other payment options lack. Fans of football teams from Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Ghana, and Cape Verde – the nine African countries that qualified for the event – will have plenty of betting opportunities when following their teams to North America this summer.
The allure of crypto betting is easy to see. For fans from across the world, crossing borders can be a banking nightmare. Cryptocurrency eliminates those complications. A fan travelling from Dakar or Casablanca to Toronto, for example, won’t have to worry about local payment restrictions or exchange rates when using a crypto wallet. Funds are transferred quickly, withdrawals are quick and it doesn’t matter where you are. This sort of simplicity has helped fuel the rapid growth of the industry over the last few years, and a global sporting event such as the World Cup only makes it go faster.
What the Platforms Are Offering
Websites such as Webopedia report that the world of crypto sports betting has certainly evolved over recent years, with platforms now offering support for dozens of cryptocurrency options and betting markets ranging from group stage football matches to individual player props. The range of betting options has grown beyond just the outcome of the game. Modern sites allow punters to place bets on goalscorers, corners, cards and a variety of in-play markets that keep punters entertained from start to finish.
For those interested in testing the waters, Canada’s online gambling industry has seen rapid growth in recent years, with a variety of platforms offering cryptocurrency-based games increasingly attractive to local punters as well as international bettors. A range of resources now exists to meet that need. Guides covering Canadian crypto casinos have become a key reference point for fans — both local and travelling — trying to find licensed, reliable platforms before the tournament kicks off in June.
Record Nine African Teams to Compete
There will be more games, more host cities and more betting opportunities, with 48 teams in the tournament. There will be 104 games played over 39 days – meaning football fans in the United States and Canada will get at least one match per day. Africa is well represented with a record nine African teams. Morocco will be a fan favourite, and Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Egypt will also be very popular.
African countries are an increasingly lucrative betting market. The rise of mobile internet in Africa in recent years has driven a boom in sports betting, both traditional and cryptocurrency-based. Companies looking to win over African bettors during a World Cup held in North America are pouring money into localised products, multi-language customer support and borderless, cross-currency crypto payments.
More Than Just Football
The World Cup has always been more than just a sporting event. It’s a massive cultural event that combines tourism, media, entertainment and even crypto. The first-time hosting by Canada just makes it more interesting. In a few weeks, Toronto and Vancouver will host visitors from across the globe – and it will have a ripple effect across the economy.
Whether you’re in Canada to watch, or you’re tuning in from Accra or Tunis, the connection between football and crypto will be a major focus in 2026. For sports betting, this could very well be the summer of their lives.
