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England opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia on June 17, a match that delivered equal parts drama and finishing quality in the Dallas heat. Harry Kane scored twice in the first half to give England a commanding position, tying Gary Lineker as the country’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer in the process.
The result matters beyond the pitch. Kraken, announced as FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, had its branding plastered across the biggest sporting event on the planet.
Six goals, two halves, one statement
Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute, converting with the kind of calm efficiency that has defined his career at the highest level.
Croatia clawed back into the match through Martin Baturina, who found the net in the 36th minute to level the score.
Kane restored England’s lead just before halftime with a header in the 42nd minute. That goal carried historical weight, pulling him level with Lineker’s record for England goals at World Cup tournaments.
Croatia weren’t finished. Petar Musa struck deep into first-half stoppage time at 45+5 minutes, sending the teams into the break level at 2-2.
Jude Bellingham scored in the 47th minute to restore England’s advantage almost immediately after the restart. Marcus Rashford sealed the result in the 85th minute with England’s fourth goal.
Kane’s record and Tuchel’s blueprint
The headline stat from England’s perspective is Kane’s place alongside Lineker in the record books. Tying the all-time World Cup scoring record for England would be noteworthy in any match. Doing it in a tournament opener, with a penalty and a header, showed the range that has made Kane one of the most complete strikers of his generation.
England scored four goals but conceded two, both in the first half. The second half saw England concede nothing while adding two goals of their own.
Crypto’s World Cup moment
Kraken becoming FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter represents a level of institutional acceptance for the crypto industry. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first expanded edition featuring 48 teams, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Prediction markets added another crypto-native dimension to the match. Polymarket hosted markets on the match outcome, allowing traders to speculate on the result using a decentralized platform.
FTX’s naming rights deal with the Miami Heat’s arena remains a cautionary tale about what happens when a high-profile sports partnership is attached to a company that implodes.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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