England opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a convincing 4-2 win over Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on June 17. Harry Kane converted a 12th-minute penalty, Jude Bellingham struck early in the second half at the 47th minute, and Marcus Rashford sealed the result in the 85th. Croatia responded through Martin Baturina in the 36th minute and Musa just before halftime, but the comeback never materialized.
The scoreline matters for Group L standings. It also matters for a crypto industry that has planted its flag all over this tournament.
Crypto’s biggest sporting stage yet
Kraken was announced as FIFA’s first-ever Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, just eight days before kickoff. Avalanche and Chainlink have both secured partnerships tied to the 2026 World Cup infrastructure. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico with an expanded 48-team format, is the biggest stage global football has ever built.
Chiliz, fan tokens, and the England problem
