US national soccer team opens World Cup against Paraguay as crypto sponsors circle the tournament

The US men’s national soccer team kicks off its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The match is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time, or 9 p.m. EDT.

It’s a home opener in every sense. The US is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, and this year’s edition marks the first time 48 teams are competing, up from the traditional 32.

What’s happening on the field

Coach Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager, is expected to deploy a squad that blends experienced internationals with younger players earning their first World Cup caps.

Paraguay is a familiar opponent. This will be the 10th meeting between the two nations in match history, a series that stretches all the way back to the 1930 World Cup. In that inaugural tournament, the US won 3-0.

The opening ceremony is set for 4:30 p.m. local time, roughly 90 minutes before kickoff. Fox, Telemundo, and Peacock will carry the broadcast, ensuring coverage across English-language, Spanish-language, and streaming audiences.

Crypto firms go all in on World Cup sponsorships

Kraken was officially named the crypto exchange supporter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 9, just three days before the tournament’s opening match.

Chiliz, the blockchain company behind the fan engagement platform Socios.com, has committed between $50 million and $100 million toward US fan engagement and sponsorship initiatives tied to the tournament.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar drew an estimated cumulative television audience of over 5 billion viewers.

The platform allows fans to purchase fan tokens associated with their favorite clubs and national teams, granting access to polls, rewards, and exclusive content. It’s worth noting that the USMNT does not currently have its own fan token on the Socios platform.

What this means for crypto investors

The CHZ token, which powers the Chiliz ecosystem and Socios.com platform, is the most direct way to track whether these sponsorship dollars translate into measurable demand.

Kraken’s World Cup deal boosts its brand, but Kraken does not have its own tradeable token for retail investors to speculate on. Chiliz does, but the correlation between marketing spend and CHZ price movement is inconsistent at best.

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