Norway stuns Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, and crypto was watching
Erling Haaland's brace sends Norway to their first ever quarterfinal, with Kraken's sponsorship deal keeping digital assets in the frame
Norway beat Brazil 2-1 on July 5, 2026, in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup.
The result is historic in the most literal sense. Norway has never reached a World Cup quarterfinal. Not once in the country’s entire footballing history. Their previous best showings were Round of 16 exits in 1938 and 1998, which means this generation of players just leapfrogged every Norwegian team that came before them.
How Norway did it
The short version: Erling Haaland scored twice, and goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland saved a Brazilian penalty at a decisive moment.
Norway’s next opponent will be either Mexico or England in the quarterfinals.
Worth noting: this is Norway’s first World Cup appearance since 1998. They didn’t just return to the tournament after a 28-year absence and survive. They went and beat Brazil in the knockout round.
Where crypto fits into all of this
Kraken, the US-based crypto exchange, holds the title of Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The crypto angle goes beyond logo placement. Prediction markets on Polymarket tracked the Brazil vs. Norway match, meaning traders were putting real money behind their read on the outcome. Polymarket operates on blockchain infrastructure, so every bet placed on the Norway upset was a crypto transaction.