John Stones is heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That alone isn’t shocking for a player with 87 England caps. What is surprising: he’s played exactly eight minutes of Premier League football this entire season.
The 31-year-old Manchester City defender described having to “dig deep” to secure his spot in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad, and that might be the understatement of the tournament cycle. But his selection carries an interesting subplot for crypto watchers. Stones is a brand ambassador for Axi, a trading platform that offers leveraged trading on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets through CFDs.
Eight minutes, one World Cup ticket
Stones has spent most of the 2025/26 season on the sidelines with a series of calf and muscular injuries. Those setbacks kept him out of multiple England camps throughout 2025 and into early 2026.
Tuchel called Stones a “key player,” citing his experience and tactical adaptability. But the England coach also openly flagged fitness concerns heading into the tournament.
