England names starting XI for World Cup Round of 16 vs. Mexico as Kraken makes historic FIFA crypto partnership debut
Thomas Tuchel's squad faces Mexico at the Estadio Azteca while crypto's biggest World Cup moment plays out in the background
England has revealed its starting lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Mexico, scheduled for July 6 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Thomas Tuchel’s side is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jordan Pickford takes his familiar spot between the posts, with Declan Rice anchoring the midfield alongside Elliot Anderson. Further forward, Jude Bellingham operates in the number ten role behind captain Harry Kane, with Bukayo Saka providing width.
The squad and the selection headaches
Tuchel announced his broader squad on May 22. The right-back position has been the biggest puzzle. Reece James’ injury has left a gap that’s proven difficult to fill, with Ezri Konsa among the names reportedly slotted in as an alternative. Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly round out the defensive selections that have dominated pre-match discussion.
The Azteca sits at over 7,200 feet above sea level. Altitude, hostile crowds, and a Mexican side playing as joint hosts present a significant challenge for Tuchel’s men.
Crypto meets the World Cup’s biggest stage
Kraken announced on June 9 that it had become the first official crypto exchange partner of the FIFA World Cup.
Notably, there are no official FIFA-issued World Cup tokens tied to this tournament, and neither England nor Mexico have launched specific fan tokens for the event. Fan tokens became a major narrative during the 2022 World Cup cycle, with platforms like Socios and Chiliz powering tokens for various national teams and clubs.
What this means for crypto investors
Prediction markets have been active around match outcomes. Speculative trading around individual games creates short-term volatility spikes in related platforms and tokens.
The fan token gap is worth watching closely. The absence of official England or Mexico tokens for this World Cup could represent a missed opportunity worth tens of millions in trading volume, based on what similar tokens generated during previous tournaments.
Coinbase has its NBA and NFL deals. Crypto.com famously renamed the Staples Center. Kraken’s FIFA partnership puts it in a distinct category when it comes to global sports partnerships, with particular relevance in regions where football dominates: Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Kickoff is set for approximately 1am BST on July 6.