US Men’s National Team draws Bosnia and Herzegovina in World Cup knockout round as crypto reshapes FIFA sponsorships
Kraken's landmark FIFA deal and surging prediction markets highlight crypto's growing grip on the beautiful game, even as the USMNT sits on the sidelines of the trend
The US Men’s National Team will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Kraken became FIFA’s first Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, 2026.
The matchup: what we know
Bosnia and Herzegovina earned their spot in the knockout stage by finishing as one of the best third-placed teams in the group phase. A decisive 3-1 victory over Qatar sealed their passage.
The Bosnian squad is captained by Edin Džeko, the veteran striker who joined Schalke 04 in January 2026.
Crypto’s World Cup moment
Kraken’s partnership with FIFA positions the exchange as the tournament’s dedicated crypto platform. For context, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar drew an estimated 5 billion viewers across the tournament.
Prediction markets tied to the 2026 World Cup have seen significant volume associated with crypto engagement.
Chiliz, the blockchain platform behind the CHZ token, continues to support tokenized fan engagement across soccer properties globally.
The USMNT’s crypto blind spot
As of late June 2026, the USMNT has no dedicated crypto or fan-token partnerships.
If the USMNT eventually signs a crypto partnership, it could provide a meaningful catalyst for whichever platform or token secures the deal, given the size of the American market. For traders watching CHZ and related assets, the knockout stage could drive short-term volume spikes regardless of what happens between the lines on July 1.