The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is in the books, and the Round of 16 matchups are locked. Canada vs Morocco. Brazil vs Norway. Paraguay vs France. Mexico vs England. Belgium vs USA.
This is the first World Cup in history with an official crypto exchange sponsor. Kraken secured that distinction on June 9, 2026, becoming FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. And with prediction markets already humming on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, the intersection of the beautiful game and digital assets has never been more direct.
The matchups that matter
The 48-team format, jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, has delivered a knockout bracket with some genuinely fascinating storylines. Norway progressed through the group stage on points. Brazil carries the weight of five World Cup titles.
Morocco, who made a stunning semifinal run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, advanced this time via penalties. Canada, playing on home soil in a tournament co-hosted across North America, will have crowd support as a genuine tactical asset.
