Eight of the first 16 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have ended in draws. That’s a record, surpassing the previous high of seven set across the 1974, 1982, and 1986 tournaments.

The 2026 edition, hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, changed that equation entirely. Forty-eight teams now play 72 group-stage matches, but only 16 teams get eliminated before the knockout rounds begin. The eight best third-placed sides advance alongside the top two from each group.

In English: you can lose a match, draw the other, and still have a reasonable shot at the round of 32.

Crypto sponsors bet big on a slow start

Kraken became the first official crypto exchange supporter of a FIFA World Cup. Chiliz, through its Socios platform, is facilitating national team fan tokens during the tournament. Tokens tied to Argentina (ARG) and Portugal (POR) are among those available, letting holders vote on minor team decisions and access exclusive content. Avalanche is backing FIFA Collect NFTs, creating digital collectible opportunities around the tournament. A Solana-based meme token called FIFA WORLD CUP (FWC) has seen trading volumes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The engagement problem and what it means for crypto

Fan tokens, crypto betting platforms, and NFT collections all thrive on emotional investment. Price action tends to correlate with on-field drama: a last-minute winner sends a team’s token spiking, while an early elimination creates a sell-off. When the group stage produces eight draws in 16 matches, that volatility gets flattened.