Egypt just did something it hasn’t done in modern World Cup history. The Pharaohs beat Australia in the Round of 32 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with Emam Ashour putting the ball in the net to send an entire nation into delirium.
But while Egyptian fans celebrated on the pitch, a different kind of action was unfolding on-chain. Prediction markets, crypto sponsorships, and a memecoin named after Mohamed Salah all had a very good day.
The match and why it matters beyond football
Egypt’s victory on July 3 caps off a remarkable group stage run that included a historic win over New Zealand. For a country that has struggled to make noise at the World Cup in recent decades, reaching the knockout rounds is a generational achievement.
Kraken was named the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026 back on June 9. Platforms like Polymarket and Coinbase Predictions saw significant upticks in trading volumes tied to tournament outcomes. Hundreds of millions of dollars have flowed through prediction markets as bettors wager on everything from match results to individual player performances.
