England Football Team to play two Friendlies in South Florida before World Cup 2026 - Full Schedule, Opponents Revealed

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With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, England's national team is finalizing preparations through a dedicated pre-tournament camp in south Florida.

Manager Thomas Tuchel's squad will use this warm-up period to adapt to North American conditions, refine tactics, and build cohesion ahead of the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

England South Florida Series Schedule

The friendlies form part of the South Florida Series, featuring two international matches

Saturday, June 6, 2026: England vs New Zealand
Wednesday, June 10, 2026: England vs Costa Rica

Both games will take place in south Florida, with exact venues and kick-off times to be confirmed. The clash against Costa Rica comes just one day before the World Cup opener, providing ideal final preparation. England last faced New Zealand in 1991 (winning both matches on a tour), while recent encounters with Costa Rica include a 0-0 draw at the 2014 World Cup and a 2-0 friendly win in 2018.

England World Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule

Following the camp, the team will relocate to their tournament base in Kansas City, Missouri. In the World Cup finals, England is placed in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. Their group stage schedule is:

June 17, 2026: England vs Croatia - Dallas Stadium
June 23, 2026: England vs Ghana - Boston Stadium
June 27, 2026: England vs Panama - New York-New Jersey Stadium

This group combines European experience (Croatia's recent final appearances), African dynamism (Ghana), and CONCACAF resilience (Panama), setting up a competitive challenge from the start. England enter as a top contender after a flawless qualifying campaign. The squad blends proven stars like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and others, although the final team is yet to be named by manager Thomas Tuchel.

The Three Lions have been part of the majority of the World Cups and their solitary title came on home soil way back in 1966.