The 2026 FIFA World Cup is doing what World Cups do best: generating drama, disappointment, and a whole lot of hot takes. England’s 0-0 draw against Ghana in Boston on June 23 gave Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson plenty to work with, calling it a “back to reality” moment for Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
England dominated possession against Ghana but failed to register a single shot on target in the first half. Nico O’Reilly’s late header struck the bar, and Harry Kane was left regretting a missed chance that could have sealed the win.
This is now the fourth consecutive World Cup where England has drawn their second group game. Merson’s frustration was palpable, though he urged patience with Tuchel, the first German coach to manage England at a World Cup.
FIFA’s decision to bring Kraken on as the tournament’s first-ever official crypto exchange partner puts Kraken’s brand in front of billions of viewers across dozens of markets. The 2026 World Cup, spread across the US, Mexico, and Canada, is the first tournament of this scale where crypto infrastructure is baked into the official sponsorship tier.
England currently does not have an official fan token on the Chiliz platform. For a team with one of the largest global fanbases in football, that’s a notable absence. Chiliz powers fan tokens for clubs like Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and dozens of other major sports organizations.
