Thomas Tuchel is doing everything right to prepare England for the 2026 World Cup. He’s managing rest days, experimenting with Jude Bellingham in a free-role No. 9 position, and building trust with his squad ahead of their Group L opener against Croatia. But there’s one area where England’s preparation lags behind its rivals: the digital asset space.
England, one of the most recognizable football brands on the planet, does not have an official fan token on the Chiliz platform. Portugal does. Brazil does. Italy and Spain do too. England? Nowhere to be found.
Tuchel’s modern management approach
Tuchel, who was appointed England head coach on October 16, 2024, with his duties officially beginning on January 1, 2025, has been methodical in his tournament preparation. After pre-tournament friendlies in the United States, where England will co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, the German manager granted his players a day off.
Tuchel has told his squad they must “live up to the trust” he’s placing in them during their time off. On the tactical side, Tuchel has signaled that Bellingham may operate as a “free role” No. 9, a position that leverages the Real Madrid midfielder’s ability to drift between lines, create overloads, and finish in the box.
