England and New Zealand Begin World Cup Preparations with Match in Florida. The first of England’s two pre-World Cup friendlies has kicked off in Tampa. New Zealand takes the field following a heavy defeat to Haiti. All key players are available for the English squad.
On Saturday in Tampa (USA), the England national team played the first of two friendlies ahead of the World Cup, facing New Zealand. The game took place at Raymond James Stadium, usually home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The main features were not only the high temperature, but also the newly laid pitch, which raised questions from both teams.
The England squad, led by Thomas Tuchel, started the match with their optimal lineup: all players were available, with no fresh injuries. Rio Ngumoha, Alex Scott, and Ethan Nwaneri were named in the squad for the match—they have been training with the main group despite not making the final tournament roster. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze, who were given extra rest after the Champions League final, will join the team in the coming days.
For New Zealand, this match was a chance to regain confidence after a heavy 0-4 defeat to Haiti in their previous friendly. The team is returning to the global stage for the first time since 2010. Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest stands out in the New Zealand lineup, having recently become the national team’s record holder for appearances—with 89 games.
England’s next friendly will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday. The coaching staff is counting on progress after March’s unsuccessful training camp, when the team drew with Uruguay and lost to Japan. As ESPN notes, the staff is closely monitoring the players’ condition and how they adapt to Florida’s hot climate.
Friendly matches before the World Cup are traditionally used to test tactical schemes and build cohesion between lines. This year, interest in the teams' preparations is especially high: earlier, Spain's national team also announced its roster for the tournament, notably without a single player from the Madrid club, which sparked discussions among fans. More details about the Spain coach's decision can be found in the article about Spain's World Cup 2026 squad list.
The World Cup kicks off next week. For England and New Zealand, these matches are the last chance to fine-tune their gameplay and assess their readiness for the tournament. It's important to note that preparations are taking place under increased scrutiny regarding players' physical condition and the quality of infrastructure, which may affect the tournament's opening matches.
