The gates at Estadio Azteca swung open today for the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match, with roughly 80,000 fans pouring into Mexico City’s most iconic stadium to watch Mexico take on South Africa. It’s a scene that’s played out twice before at this venue, in 1970 and 1986, but this time there’s a new player on the pitch: crypto.
Two days before kickoff, on June 9, Kraken was named FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. The exchange positioned itself at the center of the most-watched sporting event on the planet, right as billions of eyeballs tune in.
A $300 million facelift meets a crypto makeover
Estadio Azteca isn’t the same building that hosted Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal four decades ago. The stadium underwent a $300 million renovation ahead of this tournament, adding a hybrid playing surface and modernized facilities while keeping its architectural DNA intact.
This marks the third time the venue has hosted a World Cup opener. No other stadium on Earth can claim that distinction.
