Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Norway on July 5 didn’t just end a nation’s World Cup dream. It also guaranteed that one of the most-watched sporting events on earth would continue generating massive global attention, exactly the kind of attention that Kraken paid handsomely to sit next to.
FIFA’s decision to appoint Kraken as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for the 2026 World Cup, announced on June 9, marked the first partnership of its kind for football’s governing body.
The match that broke Brazil
Erling Haaland scored both goals for Norway, dismantling a Brazilian side that had looked unstoppable in the group stage. Vinicius Junior, who had netted four goals during group play and collected multiple Man of the Match awards, couldn’t find his rhythm when it mattered most.
Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s head coach, was captured on camera consoling Vinicius Junior after the final whistle. The image quickly became one of the tournament’s defining moments: a legendary manager comforting his Real Madrid star on the international stage, the weight of 200 million expectant fans visible in a single frame.
