The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is in the books, and the Round of 16 matchups are locked. Canada vs Morocco. Brazil vs Norway. Paraguay vs France. Mexico vs England. Belgium vs USA.

This is the first World Cup in history with an official crypto exchange sponsor. Kraken secured that distinction on June 9, 2026, becoming FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. And with prediction markets already humming on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, the intersection of the beautiful game and digital assets has never been more direct.

The matchups that matter

The 48-team format, jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, has delivered a knockout bracket with some genuinely fascinating storylines. Norway progressed through the group stage on points. Brazil carries the weight of five World Cup titles.

Morocco, who made a stunning semifinal run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, advanced this time via penalties. Canada, playing on home soil in a tournament co-hosted across North America, will have crowd support as a genuine tactical asset.

The knockout phase is set to begin in early July, continuing what has already been the largest World Cup ever staged.

Kraken’s FIFA deal and what it signals

Kraken’s partnership with FIFA is a global partnership with the single most-watched sporting event on Earth. The designation as FIFA’s first-ever Official Crypto Exchange Supporter positions Kraken at the center of fan engagement tied directly to match outcomes.

Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi are already offering active prediction markets for fixtures like Canada vs Morocco, with options covering first-half and second-half outcomes.

What this means for crypto traders

Prediction markets tied to World Cup matches are generating real trading activity, and the knockout stage, where every game is elimination, tends to spike engagement and volume dramatically compared to group-stage matches.

Kraken is a regulated exchange with a longer operational history than most of its competitors. The knockout stage starts in early July, and Kraken’s sponsorship gives the ecosystem a legitimacy boost tied directly to the tournament’s commercial infrastructure from day one.