The biggest sporting event on the planet is underway, and crypto has a seat at the table. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, spread across 16 cities in the US, Mexico, and Canada, features 48 teams and 80 matches. It also features something no previous World Cup has had: an official crypto exchange sponsor.
Kraken was appointed as FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, 2026, making it the first crypto exchange to land a sponsorship deal with the world’s governing body of soccer. Reuters photographers have been documenting the action across all 16 host cities, publishing daily galleries that capture the sheer scale of what is already the largest World Cup ever staged.
A tournament built for scale
The host city list reads like a tour of North America’s biggest metros. On the US side: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. Mexico contributes Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Canada brings Toronto and Vancouver.
Reuters has leaned into the visual storytelling opportunity, running a dedicated series on the atmosphere in each host city alongside its “Best World Cup Photos” galleries published on July 1 and July 2. The tournament kicked off in June and has already progressed to the Round of 32 as of early July.
