Norway is going to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and the country is doing it with a squad that looks nothing like the direct, physical team that last made the trip. Under manager Ståle Solbakken, who has been in charge since 2020, Norway qualified in November 2025 with a flexible, attack-minded 4-3-3 system built around some of Europe’s most coveted young talent.
But here’s the thing. While Norway prepares for its moment on the global stage, the tournament itself has become a showcase for something beyond football: crypto’s accelerating push into mainstream sports sponsorship. Kraken was named the official crypto exchange supporter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a deal announced in June 2026 that places a major digital asset platform squarely at the center of the world’s most-watched sporting event.
A 28-year wait ends with modern football
Solbakken’s side plays a flexible 4-3-3 formation that prioritizes structured build-up play and rapid transitions. The qualifying campaign saw Norway clinch a spot in the expanded 48-team tournament.
Crypto meets the World Cup, but Norway stays on the sideline
