The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Pre-tournament hand-wringing about extreme heat, logistical nightmares, and ticket prices has, so far, not materialized into real problems. Day one reports from venues like Boston describe smooth operations and enthusiastic crowds.

Crypto’s quieter footprint this time around

Rewind to Qatar 2022 and crypto was everywhere. Algorand held a lead sponsorship deal with FIFA. This time, not a single crypto company sits among FIFA’s seven global partners or eight official sponsors.

Kraken was announced as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, just days before kickoff. It’s a real partnership, but it’s a tier below the headline…