Kobbie Mainoo named in England’s 2026 World Cup squad as crypto-athlete endorsement trend cools

Manchester United's young midfielder earns his first major tournament call-up, while the broader sports sponsorship landscape quietly shifts away from digital asset deals.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 9, 2026

Kobbie Mainoo is heading to the World Cup. The Manchester United midfielder was officially named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad on May 22, marking his first selection for a major international tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer, represents the biggest stage Mainoo has ever been asked to perform on.

From Old Trafford to Miami

Mainoo has already linked up with the rest of the England squad for pre-tournament training in Miami, Florida, where the team is building fitness and cohesion ahead of a June start to their World Cup campaign.

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The midfielder has not been shy about expressing his confidence in the group’s chances.

“Everyone believes we can win this tournament, 100 percent.”

That quote, delivered during early training sessions in Miami, captures the mood inside the camp. Mainoo also described his squad selection as “a dream come true.”

England’s training camp activities are set to ramp up in early June, giving Tuchel several weeks to finalize tactical plans and settle on his preferred lineup combinations.

The quiet shift in athlete sponsorships

Mainoo’s selection, and the broader coverage around England’s squad announcement, has remained focused purely on the sport itself. No crypto endorsements. No blockchain partnerships. No metaverse watch parties.

What this means for crypto markets and investor strategy

The absence of crypto partnerships around a marquee event like the World Cup is worth paying attention to if you are an investor in the digital asset space. Fan token platforms, in particular, relied heavily on tournament excitement to drive trading volume. Investors who were banking on the next wave of sports-crypto partnerships as a catalyst for token prices may need to recalibrate their thesis.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.