The US Men’s National Team kicked off the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on June 12. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised his squad’s performance in his post-match press conference.
The crypto playbook for the World Cup
Three days before kickoff, Kraken was named FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9. That’s not a casual brand placement on a sideline banner. It’s a strategic bet that the World Cup’s multi-billion viewer audience represents the single best customer acquisition funnel crypto has ever had access to.
Chiliz, the blockchain company behind the Socios fan token platform, has reportedly allocated between $50 million and $100 million specifically for US-focused fan engagement initiatives tied to the tournament.
Algorand is facilitating blockchain-related features including digital collectibles and NFTs associated with the 2026 World Cup.
