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USMNT Draws Bosnia; Crypto Prediction Markets Top $5B
No July 4 England clash, but USMNT faces Bosnia in the new Round of 32. Kraken's deal, Chiliz fan tokens, and $5B in prediction volumes mark crypto's World Cup footprint.
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The USMNT will face Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, kickoff 8 p.m. ET. Mauricio Pochettino's squad earned the Group D top seed with six points and eight goals through three matches. A late 3-2 loss to Turkey in the finale did not cost them the top spot, so they drew a third-place qualifier rather than a group runner-up.
The draw reflects the first 48-team World Cup. That expansion created a Round of 32 before the traditional knockout rounds. More teams and more matches have boosted the market for crypto-linked prediction platforms.
Kraken became FIFA's official crypto exchange supporter on June 9. Chiliz, the blockchain company behind Socios.com, continues supplying team-specific fan tokens for participating nations. Avalanche's network is handling blockchain-based ticketing trials that put tickets on-chain to reduce counterfeiting.
The tournament has generated over $5 billion in prediction market transaction volumes through the group stage, according to data cited by multiple outlets. Kalshi and similar platforms have seen activity spike around USMNT matches. The new format adds 16 knockout matches that did not exist in the old 32-team structure. Each extra game creates a discrete binary event with clear resolution.
The simple read is that the USMNT has a favorable path. The better market read is that the 48-team format is structurally bullish for prediction market volumes. Every additional match adds a live event. The $5 billion to date already exceeds the entire U.S. sports betting handle for some months, according to industry figures. If the tournament runs deep, that number could double before the final, several prediction market traders said.
Kalshi operates as a CFTC-regulated exchange. State-level gambling laws vary across the country. A rush of volume could attract attention from regulators who see these contracts as unlicensed sports betting, according to compliance analysts. That regulatory uncertainty remains a risk for platforms that have leaned into the World Cup.
The USMNT kicks off July 1. The winner advances to face the France versus Argentina Round of 32 winner.