Veteran midfielder Luka Modrić helped Croatia qualify for the 2026 World Cup last Friday, and amid the nation’s celebrations, the Croatia Football Federation Fan Token ($VATRENI) has been on a steady climb.

Croatia Fan Token ($VATRENI) Climbs 10%

The Croatia Football Federation Fan Token ($VATRENI), which was priced at $1.98 the morning after the game, has climbed to $2.19 at the time of writing – an impressive rise of 10.6% in just four days.

While Friday’s win wasn’t exactly surprising given the disparity in the nations’ rankings (Croatia are 11th, Faroe Islands rank 127th), confirmation of Croatia’s qualification seems to have positively influenced the price of $VATRENI – although it’s fair to say the upward trajectory has been in evidence for a while: the value of the token has almost doubled over the last 30 days.

Captain Modrić managed 62 minutes before being replaced by Torino’s Nikola Vlašić, who later scored as Croatia came from behind to beat the Faroe Islands 3-1 on home turf. While the victory ended the latter’s slim hopes of qualification, it ensured Croatia’s berth in next year’s 48-team competition.

Croatia have now qualified for four consecutive World Cups dating back to 2014, with their best result coming in the 2018 showpiece, where they collected a silver medal after losing 4-2 to France.

A Shot at Glory

Next year’s event is likely to be 40-year-old Modrić’s last attempt at World Cup glory. The majestic midfielder currently represents AC Milan ($ACM), having ended a trophy-laden 13-year spell with Real Madrid in the summer.

Last month, Croatia became the first national football team to embed blockchain rewards directly into its fan engagement system, with supporters who buy merchandise via the Croatian Football Federation’s Official Store app automatically receiving 1% back in $VATRENI tokens. Tokens are currently redeemable for official merchandise and VIP experiences, although match tickets are expected to be made a redemption option at a later date.

The Croatia Football Federation Fan Token is not the only one whose metrics have been influenced by recent international fixtures. The Argentine Football Association Fan Token ($ARG) climbed 8% after a friendly win over Angola, while 24hr trade volume for the Portugal National Team Fan Token ($POR) rose by 47%.

Many nations are likely to amplify their fan engagement efforts in the build-up to next year’s World Cup, with Fan Tokens increasingly viewed as an effective way to interact with and reward loyal supporters.

Ronnie Mccluskey: Fan Tokens Market Reporter