How Are England Preparing For The 2026 World Cup?

Thomas Tuchel’s England will compete in two pre-World Cup friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica in South Florida before the start of the tournament.

The Three Lions are among the favourites for the World Cup in their bid for a first trophy since 1966.

As part of a warm-up camp in Florida, England will face New Zealand on Saturday, June 6, then will play Costa Rica on Wednesday, June 10, which is the day before the opening match of the tournament where joint-hosts Mexico will face South Africa.

England will then start their group stage campaign on Wednesday, June 17 against Croatia, before facing Ghana and Panama in their other group matches later in June.

England’s training base in Kansas City for World Cup

The Football Association have also announced that England will be based in Kansas City, Missouri for the duration of the tournament.

Last year, the FA identified Swope Soccer Village as the preferred destination for England’s training base after an extensive search.

Kansas is a two-hour flight from Dallas, where England’s opening group stage game against Croatia will be taking place.

It is also a three-hour flight to both Boston and New Jersey, where England’s other two group games are taking place.

England’s 2026 fixtures

UK kick-off times

June 6: New Zealand, friendly, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida, 9pm

June 10: Costa Rica, friendly, Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, kick-off 9pm

June 17: Croatia, World Cup group stage, Dallas, kick-off 9pm

June 23: Ghana, World Cup group stage, Boston, kick-off 9pm

June 27: Panama, World Cup group stage, New Jersey, kick-off 10pm

If England are group winners…

Round of 32: July 1, Atlanta

Round of 16: July 5, Mexico City

Quarter-finals: July 11, Miami

Semi-finals: July 15, Atlanta

Final: July 19, East Rutherford

If England are group runners-up…

Round of 32: July 2, Toronto

Round of 16: July 6, Dallas

Quarter-finals: July 10, Los Angeles

Semi-finals: July 14, Dallas

Final: July 19, East Rutherford

If England finish third in their group…

This could also take England all the way. But because of the complicated way the third-placed qualification works, there are too many potential routes – which won’t be finalised until the end of the group stages – to consider at this point.