The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began on June 12 in Toronto, with Canada hosting its first-ever home World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field. But the real story for the crypto world isn’t what happened on the pitch. It’s what’s happening around it.
Three days before kickoff, on June 9, Kraken was announced as FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for North America and Europe. That makes the San Francisco-based exchange part of a growing roster of blockchain-adjacent sponsors that now includes Chiliz, the company behind fan tokens, and Avalanche, which provides blockchain infrastructure for the tournament.
The ceremony, the match, the context
The opening ceremony kicked off at 1:30 p.m. ET, featuring Canadian artists Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, and Alessia Cara. The match itself followed at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Canada’s group stage schedule continues with fixtures against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24. This tournament is the first to feature 48 teams, a significant expansion from the traditional 32-team format, and it’s being jointly hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
