The 2026 FIFA World Cup is bringing the biggest name in soccer to the Lone Star State. Lionel Messi and Argentina are set to play two group-stage matches at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, facing Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27.
For crypto markets, this isn’t just a sports story. Between Kraken’s freshly minted role as the tournament’s official crypto exchange supporter and Messi’s ongoing ambassadorship with fan token platform Socios.com, the intersection of digital assets and the world’s most-watched sporting event is getting harder to ignore.
Argentina’s road to Dallas
Argentina warmed up for the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Honduras in a friendly played June 6-7. The scoreline was comfortable, but the headline was who wasn’t on the pitch: Messi sat out with a minor hamstring strain.
Crypto’s World Cup play
