The US Men’s National Team just punched their ticket to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a clean 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle. And yet, in the middle of what might be the biggest crypto-sports convergence in history, the USMNT doesn’t have a single cryptocurrency partner.
That’s a strange gap considering FIFA itself tapped Kraken as the official crypto exchange for the entire tournament, marking the first time a major cryptocurrency platform has held that role at a World Cup.
The match, the music, and the momentum
Cameron Burgess, an Australian defender, put the ball into his own net in the 11th minute, giving the Americans a lead they never relinquished. Alex Freeman doubled the advantage in the 43rd minute, and the scoreline held at 2-0.
The result means the US has advanced from the group stage with at least one match still to play. That’s a first in USMNT World Cup history, and it signals that coach Mauricio Pochettino has built something genuinely competitive.
