England’s friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando got pushed back to 22:00 BST on June 10 after thunderstorms rolled through Florida, turning what was supposed to be a routine pre-World Cup tune-up into a weather-watching exercise. The match at Inter&Co Stadium was originally set for 4 PM local time.
The game is part of England’s “Florida Series,” their first matches on US soil in over two decades, all timed to build momentum ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. In the last 48 hours, FIFA announced that Kraken will serve as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of that tournament.
Crypto’s creep into the world’s biggest sport
Kraken’s World Cup deal is the latest in a long line of crypto-sports partnerships, but this one carries more weight than slapping a logo on a jersey. The FIFA World Cup is the most-watched sporting event on the planet. Being the “Official Crypto Exchange Supporter” puts Kraken’s brand in front of billions of eyeballs across dozens of countries.
Crypto companies have been circling professional sports for years, from stadium naming rights to shirt sponsorships. FTX’s naming rights deal with the Miami Heat’s arena became a punchline after the exchange collapsed in late 2022. Crypto.com’s $700M deal for the former Staples Center in Los Angeles still raises eyebrows about whether the ROI justified the spend.
