The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially opens Group I play on June 16 when France takes on Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET.
For most sports fans, that’s a marquee matchup between the reigning world champions and a Senegal squad that famously stunned France 1-0 in the 2002 World Cup opener.
Crypto’s fingerprints are all over this tournament
Kraken was officially named the Crypto Exchange Supporter of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 9. That’s not a minor logo placement on a sideline banner. It positions the exchange as the tournament’s designated crypto partner across what is arguably the most-watched sporting event on the planet.
Then there’s Avalanche. The FIFA Blockchain is hosted on AVAX’s network, giving the Layer 1 chain a direct pipeline to on-chain engagement tied to World Cup activities.
