Ivory Coast has qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in the nation’s history. The Elephants topped CAF qualifying without conceding a goal across 10 matches.
In the tournament, Amad Diallo’s 90th-minute strike gave them a 1-0 win over Ecuador. A 2-1 loss to Germany left them needing a victory against Curaçao on June 25, and they delivered to advance. Coach Emerse Fae, who guided the team to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations title, expressed confidence ahead of the decisive match.
The 2026 World Cup also marks the first integration of official crypto sponsorships. Kraken serves as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter, Avalanche hosts FIFA Blockchain, and Chiliz holds an official partnership, elevating platforms tied to CHZ and AVAX tokens.
For investors, attention is the key variable. As Ivory Coast progresses deeper, the tournament’s extended visibility benefits these crypto sponsors. Chiliz’s fan token trading volumes and Avalanche’s on-chain transactions may see renewed activity, while prediction markets like Polymarket gain higher engagement.