Folarin Balogun's brace headlines a commanding performance as 70,492 fans witness the first World Cup match on American soil in 32 years
The US men’s national team opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a statement. A 4-1 demolition of Paraguay in front of 70,492 fans in the Los Angeles area was about as emphatic an introduction as any host nation could ask for.
It was the first World Cup match played on US soil since 1994.
Balogun steals the show
Paraguayan defender Damián Bobadilla gifted the hosts an own goal in the 7th minute. Folarin Balogun then took over, scoring twice in the first half to put the match effectively out of reach before the break.
Gio Reyna added a late goal to round out the scoring at 4-1. Paraguay managed to get on the board, but the consolation goal did little to mask what was a thoroughly one-sided contest.
Crypto’s growing footprint at the World Cup
Kraken has been designated as FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for the tournament. That’s a novel partnership category, essentially carving out a new sponsorship tier specifically for a crypto company.
The Socios platform, powered by Chiliz (CHZ), continues to facilitate fan tokens linked to various national teams. No tokens specific to the US or Paraguay were available for this match, but the broader ecosystem remains active as the tournament progresses.
Polymarket recorded betting volume exceeding $46 million on this single match outcome.
What this means for investors
Kraken’s FIFA partnership represents a maturation of crypto sponsorships. Unlike the frothy, logo-slapping deals of 2021 and 2022, this arrangement introduces a structured, novel partnership category.
Fan token performance tends to correlate with team results. As the US team advances, expect trading activity in sports-related crypto assets to pick up.
Source: Crypto Briefing
