February 17 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has inked a sponsorship deal with crypto exchange XBO.com, making it the Official Global Sponsor of the Argentina National Team for 2025.
But what makes this deal stand out is that it was reportedly sealed using USD Coin (USDC), a cryptocurrency coin pegged to the U.S. dollar. Football’s relationship with crypto is nothing new, but a national team securing a sponsorship paid entirely in digital currency adds a bold new chapter to the game’s financial evolution.
With Argentina’s World Cup 2026 qualification campaign entering its final stages, XBO.com will leverage the Albiceleste’s global appeal to promote crypto adoption. Fans can expect exclusive rewards like VIP match tickets and stadium tours, along with interactive campaigns linking football to digital finance.
Lior Aizik, XBO.com’s COO and co-founder, sees this partnership as a milestone for both industries.
“By teaming up with AFA, we’re proving that crypto isn’t just the future of finance—it’s a global movement that belongs to everyone. Football has always been about passion, teamwork, and breaking barriers—values that align perfectly with XBO.com’s vision for financial accessibility. This collaboration is about bringing people together and creating a truly global, borderless experience,” he commented.
But the timing of this deal raises eyebrows. Crypto sponsorships in football have been a mixed bag. While digital assets have flooded into sports marketing, the industry has also seen high-profile collapses – the implosion of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX in 2022 sent shockwaves through both finance and sport, leaving partners scrambling.
While FTX’s most prominent sports sponsorships were outside of football, its downfall had a ripple effect across the sports industry, leading to increased scrutiny of crypto-related partnerships. The sudden termination of FTX’s agreements highlighted the financial instability that can accompany such deals, prompting sports organisations to exercise greater caution when engaging with cryptocurrency firms.
Argentina’s move reflects a broader trend. Aston Martin’s Formula One team recently partnered with Coinbase, also in a deal paid fully in USDC, and plans to explore blockchain-based fan engagement via Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer 2 network.
Meanwhile, Crypto.com extended its Formula One sponsorship until 2030, reinforcing the sector’s long-term ambitions in sports.
For Argentina, a nation where financial instability and inflation have made crypto a popular hedge, the deal makes a certain kind of sense. But whether it’s a financial masterstroke or a speculative gamble depends on the volatile world of digital assets.
In football, crypto is either the future or a bubble waiting to burst… again. Argentina is betting on the former.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1740213629labto1740213629ofdlr1740213629owedi1740213629sni@g1740213629niwe.1740213629yrrah1740213629