England’s final warm-up game before the World Cup was delayed by an hour because of a thunderstorm. It is a situation they might have to get used to during this tournament.
But when the game finally began there were more than a few forks of lightning out on the pitch: Anthony Gordon was razor-sharp and confirmed that he is Harry Kane’s understudy when it comes to taking (and scoring) penalties. Elliot Anderson looked every bit the midfielder that Manchester City value at north of £100m, and then there was Jude Bellingham. He rumbled around making things happen. Provoking and creating. His presence was felt.
Starting in his preferred role as a No 10, Bellingham looked like a player ready to make an impact at this tournament. There is an incisiveness to his football and, intriguingly, for a few minutes at least, Thomas Tuchel tried him as a striker, a No 9, with substitute Morgan Rogers close to him. That helped force England’s second goal, through a fine dribble from Bellingham aided by Rogers’s pass. The combination caught the eye.
Bellingham and Rogers – close friends – in the team together, rather than rivals? Tuchel had said it was possible. And it was also possible for Eberechi Eze to get in – and that happened, too. He was true to his word.
Against Costa Rica – who were without half of their strongest XI, in fairness – England should have won far more convincingly but, thankfully, they were better than in the flat 1-0 victory over New Zealand on Saturday.
There was sharpness, there was speed and aggression and there was a desire to go for goals. Did we also see Tuchel play his hand with his starting XI for next Wednesday’s first group game against Croatia?
Maybe so. There was no Marc Guéhi, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka or Rogers, and they will all have a say. But it was close and thankfully, it was effective.
Bellingham made a difference. The 22-year-old does not do friendlies and there were clashes and cross words with the Costa Ricans – who were undercooked but not averse to putting their foot in, as they racked up yellow cards – that lifted England.
Bellingham looked like a player with a point to prove and, as Tuchel tries to create competition and a bit of “jeopardy” in his squad, there is no harm in that.
Interestingly it was the first time that Bellingham, Kane, Anderson and Declan Rice had started together under Tuchel and it was Rice who made an early mark, sweeping England into the lead.
It came as Gordon – hugely dangerous in his audition for the left-wing spot ahead of Rashford – burst to the byline and pulled the ball back. Not for the last time. Rice’s first-time shot took a deflection, but still ended up in the net. Fresh from being publicly confirmed as England’s vice-captain, it was an immediate impact from Rice, one of the four Arsenal players to join up late after the Champions League final.
Costa Rica did not qualify for the World Cup, which cost the previous coach his job while three players were dropped from the squad over indiscipline and an altercation involving shots – and not with footballs – fired at a car owned by one of them.
There were two smart saves from Costa Rican goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira – from a defensive header and from Noni Madueke, who then struck a post when cleverly released by Bellingham. Really, he had to score, having rounded Sequeira, and Bellingham went over to console him. It was an embarrassing miss.
With a rare touch, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a mess of a clearance, miscuing with Costa Rica countering and gaining a corner. It was the kind of lapse in concentration that could be costly in the tournament. Soon after Pickford struggled with a back-pass from Ezri Konsa, hitting it straight out of play.
So it was far from perfect. England’s share of possession climbed above 80 per cent and they continued to push for more goals with Madueke and Gordon threatening and Bellingham dominating.
As the hour mark passed, Tuchel, as promised, made changes, six in all: Rogers, Saka, Guéhi, Eze, Djed Spence and Dean Henderson in goal. Kane came off, Bellingham stayed on and went further forward. From that position, Bellingham’s first involvement was a tight, close-controlled dribble in the Costa Rican area to tee up Eze. His shot flew wide, but only because of a handball.
The penalty was given with Bellingham taking the ball but Tuchel’s assistant, Anthony Barry, stepped forward and made it clear that, in Kane’s absence, he wanted Gordon. Bellingham handed it over, Gordon made no mistake and England went 2-0 up.
After that it was a question of how many England would score and Tuchel would have been pleased at how the players went for it. Rogers had seen Bellingham impress, and now he wanted to make his mark.
He should have scored when sent clear, but shot wide. He kept going and when another effort from him was saved, there was another substitute, Ollie Watkins, to finish. And still England pushed. They scented goals, they wanted to sign off with more – before heading to their World Cup base in Kansas City.
It felt like a stepping up of the preparations when it was needed. Gordon may have been the best performer, along with Anderson. But it also appeared that Bellingham’s inclusion had added a bit more edge. Tuchel had talked about him being in a “sweet spot”. He certainly left a sweet sensation with this performance. Was it enough to sway Tuchel to start with him next week? The momentum is heading in that direction although Rogers will push, either instead of or alongside Bellingham.
Tuchel sounding very satisfied
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We did very well, and we deserved to win. We should have had more goals, we created a lot. The attitude, the energy, the intensity was on a very high level.
Everyone did well. It is not about one individual player today. A very good team performance and we want to have this to push to the next level, and we clearly got it.
We worked hard, counter pressing was good, and togetherness. Everything on a high level.
Tonight makes my mind very calm as we’re absolutely on the right way. The guys who came were super influential. The guys who came out were pushing from behind on the bench, exactly what we wanted.
Gordon on his performance and the penalty
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There is always pressure when you play for England. As you know, there is top players behind you waiting on the bench to come on. There is always pressure. If you can’t deal with that, you’re at the wrong level.
I was buzzing H [Harry Kane] was off. I was looking around to find him. When he was off I wanted to take it. I love penalties and I love the pressure of it. Glad to see that one go in.
Roy Keane on England’s performance
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I think Thomas Tuchel will be pleased. There was more intensity tonight in terms of the opposition. A good urgency from England that I enjoyed.
What does it mean? Who knows
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9 - Heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, England have now won each of their last nine games played either away or at a neutral venue - their longest ever such run. Building. pic.twitter.com/zNzPNXgGqu
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 10, 2026
Rice speaking
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[We did] really well in my opinion. The manager was onto us before the game to ramp it up – intensity with the ball, counter-pressing and I thought the performance from everyone was top, even the boys who came off the bench. It was an outstanding second half performance. Really good last game before it all starts.
I think we’ve adapted. You can see the heat is not really a problem now. I think the first week, ten days has been adapting to the heat. Playing with him [Anthony Gordon] and Nico [O’Reilly], we were speaking all week about how we’re going to play, rotate, be fluid. You see that in the first half and you see as a group now we’re building confidence, fitness and going into that first game now we’ve got more training sessions. We’re going to keep building and it’s really good.
FT: England 3 Costa Rica 0
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A good evening’s work for England and Tuchel, who put their foot on the pedal after a lacklustre showing against New Zealand. They were vastly superior to Costa Rica, but the intensity of their early pressing, their patterns of play, and the effectiveness of the substitutes were all positives to take. England play their first World Cup game against Croatia next Wednesday. The wait is almost over.
94 minutes: England 3 Costa Rica 0
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England are finishing the game by peppering the Costa Rica goal, the game ceased to be a contest a while ago. Watkins runs out of space in the penalty area, before another short corner routine results in Rogers firing over the bar.
92 minutes: England 3 Costa Rica 0
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England enjoying themselves now, Saka teeing up Eze from a shot-corner routine and only a Costa Rice block denies him a goal. Instant replay from the next corner, another Eze shot blocked.
90 minutes: England 3 Costa Rica 0
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Saka with a cross-shot, narrowly wide of the far post. There will be six minutes of added time to play.
89 minutes: England 3 Costa Rica 0
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Some of the England fans behind the goal are singing “football’s coming home”... sounding the starting pistol on another summer of debate about whether the lyrics are hubristic or ironic.
GOOOALLL! Watkins scores England’s third
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Rashford went close after a move in which Rogers produced some delightful touches, but not England do have their third goal of the game. Rogers involved again, a relatively tame shot is parried by the goalkeeper and Watkins has an easy task to head home from close range.
85 minutes: England 2 Costa Rica 0
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Rogers with a teasing cross through the six-yard box, but Mitchell clears for Costa Rica. England have another corner though, after Watkins’ low cross is cleared.
Eze with a lovely reverse pass into Rogers, but his chipped cross is overhit.
82 minutes: England 2 Costa Rica 0
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Another excellent England switch, this time from Dan Burn to pick out Saka. He plays a cute pass to the underlapping run of Rogers, who wins a corner. That pattern has been in evidence through out: switch to the winger holding width, run inside from the attacking midfielder on his side.
78 minutes: England 2 Costa Rica 0
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So playing with Jude Bellingham as a false nine or striker lasted just eight minutes, with Ollie Watkins brought on and playing up top. It is Tuchel’s usual system although he does not need two defensive midfielders, so Eberechi Eze is pushing forward more: D Henderson; Quansah, Guehi, Burn, Spence; Mainoo; Saka, Rogers, Eze, Rashford; Watkins
78 minutes: England 2 Costa Rica 0
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Good work from Mainoo to dribble through midfield, halted by what feels Costa Rica’s 500th foul of the game. Referee Koroleva was mistaken if she thought she was in for a quiet night. Can England add to the scoring before the end? The most important thing is no injuries.
75 minutes: England 2 Costa Rica 0
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Costa Rica’s Nunez has been booked for delaying the restart after Saka was tripped. The attendance has just been announced at 20,300.
England miss their second sitter of the night: Eze with a slide-rule pass to split the defence, but Rogers passed the ball wide of the post with only the goalkeeper to beat.
73 minutes: England 2 Costa Rica 0
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England have a corner, and Dan Burn has now replaced O’Reilly so Tuchel has made his 11 changes. There is a behind-closed-doors game tomorrow for some players to top up their minutes. Dan Burn was wrestled to the ground in the box, but the referee waved it away. Saka will finish the game with the armband.
69 minutes: England 2 Costa Rica 0
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Time for another drinks break. England’s fresh legs should be able to enjoy themselves from here.
On that note, Tuchel is making more changes: Watkins, Mainoo, Rashford and Quansah are on, Bellingham, Anderson, Gordon and Konsa off.
GOOOALL! Gordon scores from the spot
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Emphatic penalty from Barcelona’s new winger, wrapping the ball with power into the top-left corner.
Penalty taker switched there after a word from Anthony Barry on the touchline. He pointed for Gordon to take the spot-kick and Jude Bellingham handed the ball over.
ENGLAND PENALTY!
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Great play from Bellingham dancing through challenges from the left side of the penalty area, and he tees up Eze on the penalty spot. It was a difficult one to spot, but the defender pushed his elbow towards the ball to stop the goal-bound shot.
Gordon to take.
65 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Jude Bellingham has gone forward into a nominal No 9 position is seems. Eze and Rogers are in central positions in front of Anderson, with Saka on the right. Eze and Rogers as No 8s could be an option if England are chasing a goal in the tournament.
62 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Costa Rica are belatedly changing their goalkeeper now.
Confirmation of the England changes: Pickford, Rice, Madueke, James, Stones and Kane are coming off. Dean Henderson, Rogers, Guehi, Saka, Spence and Eze are on.
Interesting to see how England set up with no orthodox striker.
60 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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We have had a stoppage in play because Costa Rica goalkeeper Sequiera pulled up after clearing the ball.
Eze, Saka, Guehi, Spence and Dean Henderson are about to come on for England.
Tuchel not happy with the referee for allowing such a long stoppage.
57 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Kane’s shot is blocked after a Rice flick forward, before O’Reilly is wrestled to the ground after reading play to intercept on the front foot. The Man City man is such a silky player, but is physically so imposing in the duels too.
56 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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It is safe to say that Declan Rice will be on set-pieces at the World Cup. He missed the first warm-up friendly as he rested after the Champions League final. And during this match he has been on almost every set-piece.
54 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Madueke with a cross towards the back post which is overhit. The England fans behind the goal give the goalkeeper Sequeira some stick, before centre-back Mitchell nutmegs Kane. He will never forget that. Salazar has been shown a yellow card for tripping Konsa.
51 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Tuchel was critical of England’s lack of positional discipline against New Zealand, not holding their width, but that has been amended. Madueke has chalk on his boots, and in that passage of play O’Reilly was wide with Gordon inside. An England corner is headed down at the back post but O’Reilly does not connect on the swivel.
49 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Mora with the chance to break beyond England’s defence after skipping through a few challenges, but Rice puts out the fire in typical fashion. The Arsenal man just eats up the ground and eases opponents out with ease.
47 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Madueke proving an outlet for England again, holding his width on the right, before running across the face of the penalty area. Failed to get a shot off, before Anderson’s disguised pass is cut out.
Kane then fizzes a driven pass out to Madueke, who cuts inside and curls a shot not far wide of the far post. Good effort.
North London alliance
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10 - Excluding own goals, each of England's last 10 goals in all competitions have been scored by either Harry Kane (5) or an Arsenal player (Eze x2, Saka, White, Rice). Rivalry. pic.twitter.com/bBEN3OTCab
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 10, 2026
The players are back out for the second half
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No changes from Tuchel at half time, the plan is for these starters to play between 60 and 70 minutes. Adds to the impression that this XI will be close the line-up for Croatia.
Anthony Gordon is still engaged in conversation with Russian-born referee Katja Koroleva on the touchline, after he was denied a penalty in the first half. The American official referees in the MLS as a VAR and on also on the pitch in the NWSL.
Mike’s half-time verdict
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That was a decent enough workout for England in the first half. It was competitive, with three Costa Rica yellow cards including one for a member of the coaching staff. One of the concerns was Jordan Pickford’s kicking. One clearance set up a chance for Costa Rica, while another went for a throw and saw him pointing a finger in the direction of Ezri Konsa. He has not had a save to make, though.
HT: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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If the New Zealand game was a training session, this has been a far more recognisable performance from a group of top-level players. England smothered Costa Rica from the first whistle, and looked dangerous from both flanks. Rice, who scored the goal, and Anderson have run forward to good effect inside the wingers Gordon and Madueke.
NO PENALTY!
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VAR is in place, and Koroleva has reversed her original decision after consulting the pitchside monitor. Right decision, there was minimla contact and Gordon went down too easily.
PENALTY ENGLAND!
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It will not go down as an assist, but Kane picks out Gordon with a sensational pass faded in behind the Costa Rica defence with his right foot. Gordon did not get his shot off, but kept the ball alive before hitting the turf under the challenge of Johnson.
45 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Another Costa Rica yellow card, this time Mora is penalised for catching Anderson with a high boot. Not too much in it.
Four minutes of added time to play, which accounts from the drinks break.
43 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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A member of Costa Rica’s backroom staff has been booked, evidence of the needle in the game.
41 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Despite the horrible miss, Madueke has been a threat throughout, and he is not happy about the treatment he is receiving from Costa Rica’s Araya. Madueke and Gordon have been positives for Tuchel, but you have to take the opposition into account.
Jude Bellingham went straight over to Noni Madueke during the break in play to console him after the miss. It was a proper open goal. The only England miss that springs to mind is Geoff Thomas but he had the goalkeeper in front of him.
39 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Play back under way after a short stoppage for a clash of heads involving Anderson. The midfielder is fit to continue. England played their way into a tight spot deep in their own half, Kane on the ball in his own box, before O’Reilly is caught in possession. England break though, but Bellingham lifts a cross behind with his left foot.
36 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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How has Madueke missed?! Well-timed run behind the defence, picked out by Bellingham, and the Arsenal winger rounded the goalkeeper to present himself with an empty goal. Madueke tried to work the ball back on to his left foot, and hit the near post. Should he have rolled the ball in with his right? That would have been a simpler movement.
33 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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The forward runs of Rice, centre left, and Anderson, centre right, have been a feature of England’s play. Rice with another burst forward and a touch inside for Gordon, who is fouled right on the edge of the penalty area. Rice takes on a shot from a tight angle, but it is wayward and always rising.
31 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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England’s first moment of sloppiness: Pickford tucked himself up with the ball at his feet in the box, and had to shovel a pass forward with his left foot, which was intercepted by Mora around 30 yards out. He turns down the chance to shoot, before a deflected effort goes behind for a corner. Costa Rica try a short corner and mess it up royally.
29 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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We are back under way after the water break, which Tuchel used to deliver some instructions. A four-minute stoppage.
25 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Jason Burt wrote in our football newsletter today that England were planning to keep their set-piece routines under wraps. Rice tried a very unusual low corner delivery there, which did not come off. Not sure we will see that one again.
Fluent football again, though. Anderson with a run in that De Bruyne-like inside right channel, delivering a wicked cross into the penalty area. Scrambled clear, before a Madueke strike into the turf is saved.
The ball bobbles up for Kane as he tries to shoot, and it baloons over the bar. Time for drinks.
22 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Costa Rica right-back Johnson has been booked for hacking down Gordon, who has him on toast. This can be a problem when playing friendlies against inferior opposition: they grow frustrated with chasing shadows and start kicking.
From the free-kick, Sequeira makes a sharp save to deny Kane scoring a similar glancing header to the one against New Zealand.
TYhe play is slow here, in very sweaty conditions. There is not much high-octane football so the crowd are going through their songbook – including a favourite in tribute to Harry Maguire.
19 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Costa Rice have barely had a touch in England’s half so far, they are having to expend a lot of energy just to keep the score down at the moment. England have a free-kick wide left, which Rice can whip across the face of goal. Too much air on the delivery, allowing the goalkeeper Sequiera to claim.
17 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Madueke beats his man off the touchline before miscuing his lay-off towards James, but England are looking dangerous down both flanks. The aggression of England’s pressing and counter-pressing has been eye-catching, not giving their opponents a second to breathe.
15 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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Nico O’Reilly enjoys a fruitful partnership with Jeremy Doku on Man City’s left flank, and there are shades of that combination with Gordon tonight. O’Reilly with a cute pass to pick out Gordon’s underlapping run. From the corner, Kane frees himself at the back post to head back across goal but Mora did enough to put off Konsa.
12 minutes: England 1 Costa Rica 0
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At the moment, you would have to say this contest looks a mismatch. Costa Rica’s defence looks unable to repel the passing speed and greater athleticism of England’s attack.
Thomas Tuchel has been sat on a Lucozade icebox watching this game in the style of Marcelo Bielsa. But he was up on his feet and clapping when Declan Rice tucked home that cross from Anthony Gordon. His name is announced on the loud speaker like boxing announcer Michael Buffer.
GOOOALL! Rice gives England the lead
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Tuchel will have been enthused by England’s start and now they have their goal. Gordon is too sharp for Costa Rica right-back Johnson and drives to the byline, before picking out Rice with the cut-back. The Arsenal midfielder takes the shot first time with his left foot, and a deflection helps the ball over the arm of the goalkeeper.
8 minutes: England 0 Costa Rica 0
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Madueke’s inswinging delivery from the resulting corner was really threatening, bouncing just a few yards from goal, but Costa Rica scramble clear. Some appeals for an penalty, but nothing doing.
Rice then drives forward in the inside left channel, but Gordon’s pass to Kane was underhit.
Anderson then floats a cross to the back post, and Kane feels he was dragged down, but the referee Ekaterina Koroleva is unmoved.
5 minutes: England 0 Costa Rica 0
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Galo barges Anderson over, the game is already more physical and competitive than the narrow win against New Zealand. Madueke the next player to be tripped, fouled by the left-back Araya.
Madueke is then picked out with a raking switch of play to the right, his control is clean, before James and Anderson combine in a tight space.
O’Reilly drags away a defender in the box, before Bellingham bends a deflected shot not far wide of the post. Promising football from England.
2 minutes: England 0 Costa Rica 0
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Thomas Tuchel spoke about the need to show more intensity out of possession, and the early signs are that England’s attackers are committed to closing down. How long that sustains is the question. Konsa wins an early duel and booms a clearance down the pitch, before James commits a foul.
It took just eight seconds for Jude Bellingham to get into this game. He threw himself into a tackle to win the ball off Darril Araya.
KICK OFF!
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Costa Rica get the game under way. They are playing in red, England in all white.
England players walking out here at silver shellsuits - they look like the sheets marathon runners throw over themselves.
The teams are out
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The Inter&Co Stadium is the home of MLS team Orlando City, and NWSL team Orlando Pride. Plenty of pyrotechnics to greet the players.
Jordan Henderson helping out his team-mates
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Jordan Henderson is doing his bit in the warm-up. For the shooting drill, he was the “coach” who players bounced passes off before getting a shot off, rather than having shots himself. All 26 are in the matchday squad here, with Jason Steele not included as he is the fourth goalkeeper.
Tuchel speaking on the storm, the plan and Bellingham
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[On the storm] Give us a little taste of what could happen in the tournament, we were aware of it, and it should not be a problem or an excuse. We should not lose our mood or our patience.
It didn’t cross my mind that it was so severe [on whether the game could have been called off].
It seems surprisingly dry [the pitch], but they know what they are doing and it seems good to play.
The team could start any match, it is a very strong line-up and a very strong bench. We want to make the next the next step, push the boundaries after 10 days in camp.
It’s about stepping up intensity off the ball and with the ball and see what we can produce. We are progressing, we see it when we test the sweat and blood of the players, the acclimatisation, we are getting fitter.
It’s the first time he [Bellingham] plays with Declan, Harry and Elliot together so it can be a good proof of concept.
Costa Rica’s team
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Costa Rica did not qualify for this World Cup. Where is Joel Campbell or Bryan Ruiz when you need them? It had slipped my mind that they took Netherlands to penalties in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals. What an effort.
Costa Rica starting XI: Sequeira, Johnson, Mitchell, Faerron, Araya, Salazar, Carlos Mora, Galo, Soto, Alcocer, Ugalde
Subs: Bayron Mora, Madriz, Peraza, Ruiz, Nunez, Flores, Sinclair, Quiros, Rodriguez
The sprinklers are on...
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Despite the monumental lightning storm, the pitch is getting watered here at Inter&Co Stadium. Looks decent conditions to play now, quite overcast but not waterlogged any more.
Gordon and Rice deep in conversation
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I would expect Rice to play just the 45 minutes having been a late arrival at camp along with his Arsenal team-mates.
What Tuchel said about Saka’s fitness
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We still have to take a little bit of care for Bukayo [Saka] who had an injury in March and carried it through the club campaign.
He made himself available at the end of the season and did so brilliantly, but he was managed in between matches. That continues a bit at the moment - we are building him up.
We just came from training and everyone was involved including Bukayo.
Roy Keane is off the mark
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He says of Carlos Queiroz, Ghana’s manager at the World Cup and former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson: “He had the personality of a dead fish when I played under him.”
We have our kick-off time
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Organisers have confirmed it will be a 5pm kick-off local time, which is 10pm in the UK. This is subject to no further lightning delays.
This is how they are drying the pitch out
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A piece of kit you tend to see at PGA Tour golf tournaments rather than football matches, but expected more of this over the coming weeks.
Tuchel’s selections assessed
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Thomas Tuchel has named his team for the last friendly before the World Cup, which may give a hint to his team next week against Croatia in Dallas.
As revealed by Telegraph Sport, Jude Bellingham will start against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium here in Miami, with the Real Madrid midfielder supporting Harry Kane.
John Stones and Ezri Konsa are England’s centre-backs and Tuchel must choose between those two and Marc Guéhi for two places in his team. Nico O’Reilly and Reece James are the full-backs and look to have a good chance to start at the World Cup.
Noni Madueke is starting on the right-wing as Bukayo Saka is still building up his fitness after recovering from Achilles issues at the end of the season. Anthony Gordon starts this match after Marcus Rashford started in the win over New Zealand at the weekend.
England team news
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England starting XI: Pickford; James, Stones, Konsa, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Subs: Guehi, Saka, Rashford, Livramento, D Henderson, J Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Watkins, Eze, Toney, Trafford, Spence, Quansah
Jude Bellingham will start England’s final World Cup warm-up game this evening.
The 22-year-old has been selected by Thomas Tuchel and has his chance to stake his claim for a starting place when England’s campaign kicks off next Wednesday against Croatia in Dallas.
The start of tonight’s game has been postponed by an hour, to 10pm, because of heavy rain in Orlando.
When the game does get under way, Bellingham is expected to play in his preferred No 10 role with Morgan Rogers strongly in contention for that position when the World Cup begins. Tuchel has also suggested Eberechi Eze could play there.
Selecting Bellingham to face Costa Rica does not mean he has been given the nod but it provides him with the opportunity to impress Tuchel after an injury-hit season.
It also means he can increase his “load” having played far fewer minutes than his team-mates this season.
Bellingham played the second 45 minutes of last Saturday’s first warm-up game, the 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa, in which Tuchel fielded two separate XIs. He was given the captaincy, also, because he was the most capped player in the line-up.
Pitch inspection upcoming
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It should haven in around 10 minutes, and after that a new kick-off time will be confirmed.
Fans are now being admitted to the stadium
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Despite the delay, the pitch looks to be draining
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Kick-off delayed
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The FA’s statement makes no comment on the duration of the delay but promises “further updates as soon as we have them”.
The big screens have been updated to account for lightning
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The lightning has started
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It is still raining very heavily here in Orlando and there has been lightning too. Myself and Jason Burt are marooned in the car park of Inter&Co stadium but a Talksport commentator is in the arena and has posted the waterlogged goalmouth.
Inclement may be an understatement
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More from Ivan Toney on his journey through the EFL
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Toney had virtually been written off as an England striker when Tuchel looked at other options during the March internationals, with Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin given a chance to stake their claim.
But he is the closest in style to Harry Kane, who also endorsed Toney’s call-up in discussions with Tuchel as the former Brentford striker distracts defenders to give him more space. When asked about “going backwards to go forwards”, Toney says he has no regrets over his Middle East move and he has become a better player over the last two years, during a period where he has scored 72 goals.
“I’ve definitely done that plenty of times plenty of times. Barnsley, Shrewsbury, Wigan, Scunthorpe, Peterborough, Northampton, everywhere,” he said.
“There was a lot of talk by people saying I’d gone out to Saudi and it has ruined my chances of being in the mix but I don’t listen to outside noise. It’s given me self-belief, resilience, an edge.”
The rain is pelting down in Orlando
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Very, very heavy rain and lightning ahead of England's final friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando ahead of the World Cup. Under two hours to kick off - if the game goes ahead…. pic.twitter.com/kRUZfSeBy8
— Jason Burt (@JBurtTelegraph) June 10, 2026
Little more than 24 hours until the World Cup begins
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The opening fixture is Mexico vs South Africa in Mexico City, and thousands of people could take to the streets in protest at working conditions and to draw attention to los desaparecidos – those who are missing, suspected to have been murdered by the cartels or forced into drugs or arms dealing by them.
In this special report, Tom Morgan and our documentary maker Jack Leather have made a seven-minute video showing despairing families going about the grim task of searching for human remains.
We are in a cartel stronghold in Guadalajara, where state officers wielding M16 rifles watch us and the searchers with minimal interest. Officials are there just to monitor as the team of mothers and fathers thrust iron spikes into the ground and then smell the tips for signs of rotting flesh. After two hours at the site, Flores is suddenly convinced we have found a new grave because he has discovered a pile of chalk, usually left by the cartel to soak up moisture and the rancid stench. “Remains here probably,” he says.
Toney: ‘I’m in a much better head space now’
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Ivan Toney has revealed he was not in the right head space last summer when his England career looked over.
Thomas Tuchel was left unimpressed with Toney a year ago when he saw a lack of commitment in training around matches against Andorra and Senegal, but the Al-Ahli striker fought his way back into the World Cup squad.
He was helped by references from his club manager, Matthias Jaissle, who was a youth-team player while Tuchel was at Stuttgart. England assistant Justin Cochrane also flew out to Saudi Arabia to watch Toney play.
And after clear-the-air talks with Tuchel, Toney was back in the running for a place at the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada which starts this week. He will also execute his “no-look” penalty if needed in a shoot-out during the knockout stages like during the European Championship two years ago.
“We spoke, we cleared the air, we cleared things and I’m in a lot better head space than I was back then. I’m a lot more confident. I feel like I do belong here - I am prepared to help the team in any situation,” he said.
When asked about his penalty technique, where he watches the goalkeeper’s movement rather than the ball, he added: “Belief, you have to have an aura, swagger has to be there, in life not just in football. Be fearless.”
“You have to have an aura. Swagger has to be there. In life, not just in football, be fearless. When everybody was writing me off that I wasn’t gonna be involved in the England picture and you to have that spiritual feeling you can turn things round and I’m sat here with you now.”
Storms moving in...
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There is currently heavy rain and thunder in the vicinity of the Inter&Co Stadium, with lightning forecast close to kick-off (which is 4pm local time in Florida).
Weather delays were a feature of the Club World Cup last summer, and they appear unavoidable over the next few weeks.
Costa Rica friendly an exercise in managing minutes
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England’s only competitive match against Costa Rica was a goalless draw after Roy Hodgson’s team had already been sent packing from the 2014 World Cup, but Thomas Tuchel and his team are hoping to stay in North America for a good while longer.
Just like in Brazil eight years ago, the sapping effects of heat and humidity are foremost in the conversation, with England expected to carefully manage minutes.
England played two separate teams before and after half time against New Zealand, and fans hoping to see Tuchel roll out all of his big guns this evening may be left disappointed.
The Arsenal quartet of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are expected to be eased into action after joining the camp late following their Champions League final exertions.
Saka’s condition is of particular concern, with Tuchel rating the chances of him starting and finishing tournament matches as “very unlikely”. The winger missed a chunk of Arsenal’s Premier League run-in, and looked some way short of his best when he did return to action.
As has been the case with England since last autumn, Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham are vying to start in the Number 10 spot. Rogers played the first 45 minutes against New Zealand before Bellingham was introduced at half time.
Asked whether Bellingham had a fight on his hands for a place in his best XI, Tuchel said: “Yes, he has.
“He is one of the starters, he knows he is one of the starters, but we have 14 or 15 potential starters.
“These roles can always change, but at the moment I think there are 14 or 15 proper starters and Jude is one of them.”
Other important selection calls going into the opening game include Marc Guehi’s centre-back partner and whether Anthony Gordon or Marcus Rashford will start on the left.
Team news on the way shortly.