Carlos Queiroz becomes oldest head coach to win at FIFA World Cup as crypto meets the beautiful game

Carlos Queiroz, the 73-year-old Portuguese manager leading Ghana’s Black Stars, etched his name into FIFA World Cup history on June 17. His team’s 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto made him the oldest head coach ever to secure a victory at the tournament.

Ghana had been winless for eight months heading into their Group L opener against Panama.

Queiroz was only appointed in April 2026, replacing Otto Addo, who was sacked after the dismal run. Caleb Yirenkyi scored the decisive goal in stoppage time.

The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA, the first tri-nation edition of the tournament.

Queiroz’s remarkable World Cup resume

This is his fifth consecutive World Cup as a head coach, a record he now shares with the legendary Brazilian coach Bora Milutinovic.

His resume reads like a world atlas. He has managed Portugal, Iran, Colombia, and now Ghana at the World Cup. He also served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, twice.

Crypto’s growing footprint at the World Cup

Kraken serves as the official crypto exchange supporter of the 2026 World Cup. The 2022 edition in Qatar featured Crypto.com branding. The 2026 cycle features a vastly expanded 48-team format and a correspondingly larger commercial footprint.

The risk side is straightforward. Crypto sponsorships at sporting events have a checkered history. FTX’s naming deal with the Miami Heat arena became one of the most embarrassing corporate collapses in recent memory.

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