After England’s lackluster friendly in Florida against New Zealand in Tampa, England performed much better in their final 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Costa Rica on Wednesday evening in Orlando.
The country even had to test its patience with North America’s tumultuous summer weather.
After brief, intense thunderstorms delayed kick-off by about an hour, England recorded a 3–0 win over the Ticos after an early goal from Declan Rice, followed by draws after half-time from Anthony Gordon (penalty) and Ollie Watkins.
“I think we set the tone today in the meeting and the players were ready to follow, to take the next step in intensity and the way we play, to push ourselves and get a good feeling out of it, which we definitely did,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said. Air sports.
England, who are oddsmakers’ third favorite World Cup team after France and Spain, managed just a 1-0 win in the previous match against New Zealand, with Harry Kane scoring in first-half stoppage time.
READ ALSO | Gascoigne urges England to channel the spirit of 1990 at 2026 FIFA World Cup
Weather delays are rare at major soccer tournaments around the world, which are often played in jurisdictions with less frequent severe weather and less strict rules about playing during that weather.
For example, a Euro 2024 match between hosts Germany and Denmark continued until thunder was clearly heard in the immediate area, after which play was halted for just 22 minutes.
In the United States, where severe summer weather is more common, MLS matches are halted if a lightning strike occurs within eight miles of a stadium and cannot continue until 30 minutes after the most recent strike.
These practices were also followed during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, where six of the tournament’s 63 matches were postponed or suspended due to poor conditions.
“In retrospect, it was good for us to have a bit of a delay so we could adapt to that and see if it affected us,” Tuchel said. «The group was great. We weren’t distracted, we didn’t lose focus and we had an excellent and determined performance from start to finish.»
Weather will not be an issue for England’s Group L opener against Croatia next Wednesday, which will be played at a climate-controlled venue in Arlington, Texas. The second and third games in Foxborough, Mass., and East Rutherford, N.J., will be subject to the elements.
The winner of Group L will play their Round of 32 match indoors in Atlanta, while the runners-up will head to Toronto, another outdoor venue.
Published on June 12, 2026
