England beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on July 1 in Atlanta, and the result was historic on two separate fronts, one sporting and one financial.
On the pitch, Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to overturn a 1-0 deficit, giving England their first World Cup victory after conceding the opening goal since the 1966 final.
Off the pitch, the match unfolded inside a tournament where Kraken, the US-based crypto exchange, holds the title of Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of FIFA World Cup 2026. That deal, announced on June 9, 2026, is the first of its kind in FIFA history.
What actually happened in Atlanta
The DRC drew first blood inside seven minutes, putting England in familiar and uncomfortable territory. England have lost 17 of the previous 22 World Cup matches in which they conceded first. The 1966 final, where they came from behind to win, was the only prior exception.
