The England national football team has announced that they will play two warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. These fixtures are scheduled to take place in Florida, with one match against New Zealand set for June 6 and the other against Costa Rica on June 10. This pre-tournament training camp aims to help the team acclimatize to the North American environment ahead of the official World Cup kickoff.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel is looking to utilize these matches to finalize his squad and strategy as they prepare to take on their first opponent, Croatia, in Dallas on June 17. Besides the matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica, England is also set to compete against Ghana and Panama in Group L during the tournament, which will take place in various locations across the United States. This strategic training camp in Florida represents a crucial step for England as they aim to end their long wait for World Cup glory.

The choice of Florida as a training base reflects England's desire to replicate the climate and conditions they will experience during the World Cup. As the tournament draws closer, the anticipation among fans, players, and coaching staff is building, especially given that the English squad has not won the World Cup since 1966. The upcoming matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica not only serve as essential preparation but also allow the team to gauge their readiness before facing more seasoned opponents in the World Cup group stage.