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Harry Kane just did what no English footballer has managed in 36 years. The Bayern Munich striker scored twice in England’s 4-2 demolition of Croatia, bringing his World Cup tally to 10 goals and matching Gary Lineker’s all-time England record at the tournament.
The milestone came during England’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Dallas, part of the first-ever 48-team edition of the competition. And while Kane was busy rewriting history on the pitch, crypto was making its own quiet entrance through the tournament’s front door.
A record 36 years in the making
Lineker set the benchmark across two World Cups, in 1986 and 1990. That record stood untouched through decades of English strikers who tried and fell short.
Kane entered the 2026 tournament needing exactly two goals to pull level. He got them both in a single match.
His first was a header. His second came from the penalty spot, a retake no less. Kane, now 32 years old and captaining the side, made both look routine.
The performance brought his career World Cup record to 10 goals in 13 appearances.
Lineker himself was gracious about it. On his podcast, the former striker called Kane “the greatest English striker we’ve ever had” and welcomed him to what he described as the “double-figures club.”
Kane isn’t just level with the record. He’s one goal away from owning it outright.
The 48-team World Cup changes everything
The 2026 tournament is a different animal from the ones Lineker played in. FIFA expanded the field from 32 to 48 teams, meaning more matches and more opportunities for elite strikers who stay healthy.
FIFA announced on June 9, 2026, that Kraken would serve as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the World Cup.
What the Kraken-FIFA deal means for crypto
Sports sponsorships have been a double-edged sword for the crypto industry. FTX slapped its name on an NBA arena in Miami before spectacularly imploding. Crypto.com’s deal with the UFC and its Los Angeles arena naming rights survived the bear market.
The timing also matters. Crypto markets have matured considerably since the last World Cup in 2022, which took place in Qatar just weeks after FTX filed for bankruptcy. Four years later, Bitcoin ETFs have been trading on US exchanges for over two years. Kraken, which has operated since 2011 and holds licenses in multiple countries, fits that profile better than most.
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