FIFA World Cup 2026: Norway, France, and Mexico advance as crypto markets ride the tournament wave

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is delivering exactly what 48-team expansionists promised: more drama, more upsets, and more globally relevant storylines. On June 30, Norway, France, and Mexico all punched their tickets to the Round of 16, each with convincing performances that left little doubt about their credentials.

Three wins, three different stories

Mexico handled Ecuador with a clean 2-0 victory. For a nation hosting World Cup matches on home soil for the first time since 1986, the result carries weight beyond the scoreboard.

France made their match against Sweden look like a training exercise. Kylian Mbappe scored twice in a 3-0 demolition, reminding everyone why he remains the most dangerous forward in international football.

Norway’s path was the narrowest. A 2-1 win over Ivory Coast required Erling Haaland to do what Erling Haaland does: find the net at the moment it mattered most. The last time Norway appeared at a World Cup was 1998.

All three results came during the Round of 32, the new knockout stage created by FIFA’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams.

Kraken, Avalanche, and crypto’s World Cup moment

On June 9, 2026, Kraken was announced as FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. That’s a historic first. No dedicated crypto exchange had ever held a FIFA World Cup sponsorship before.

FIFA has also adopted the Avalanche blockchain to power its digital initiatives. The FIFA Collect platform, which offers digital collectibles and handles ticketing functions, has recorded over 85,000 active addresses following a migration to Avalanche.

Fan tokens and prediction markets heat up

Chiliz fan tokens have experienced trading spikes that correlate directly with match outcomes.

No specific crypto tokens are tied directly to Norway, France, or Mexico’s national teams. Various meme tokens associated with the World Cup have emerged, though, because the crypto ecosystem has never met a cultural moment it couldn’t tokenize.

Platforms like Sorare, which link player performance to NFT valuations, have gained traction during the tournament. A Mbappe brace doesn’t just move France closer to the trophy. It moves the value of his digital cards on secondary markets.

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