Confirmed friendly teams for the 2026 World Cup and full lineups, TV channel, live streaming and stats
The start of a friendly between England and Costa Rica has been delayed after heavy rain in Orlando on Wednesday.
The game will now start later than originally planned, with kick-off confirmed at 22:00 BST.
The meeting with the world’s 53rd-ranked side is the Three Lions’ final game before their World Cup campaign kicks off against Croatia on June 17 (21:00 BST) as part of a group featuring Ghana and Panama.
Los Ticos missed the finals for the first time in four editions, dropping four of their six games in the third qualifying round to finish four points behind Haiti, who reached the tournament from their group stage.
Costa Rica drew 0-0 with England on their way to topping their group at the 2014 World Cup, where the Three Lions took one point to finish fourth in the group.
England confirmed squad vs Costa Rica
England name a strong team despite the delay, with Harry Kane as captain and Jude Bellingham getting the No.10 spot.
Midfielder Declan Rice and strikers Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke were rested against the All Whites after featuring in Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on May 30.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel said Saka, who was taken off in the second half of that game, is unlikely to “start and finish every game” because he is managing an Achilles injury.
Alex Scott, Josh King, Jason Steele and Ethan Nwaneri are ineligible for the World Cup but could make their England debut, as training squad member Rio Ngumoha impressed against New Zealand.
Right-back Ben White was called up by England in March and made his debut against Japan but will miss the final with a serious knee injury.
In England starting XI: Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane
2026 World Cup preparations: Costa Rica to face England
Coach Fernando Batista took over in March following the sacking of Miguel Herrera in November last year and 19 of the 25 players named by the former Argentina manager of Venezuela are under 23 years of age.
Costa Rica: Sequeira; Johnson, Mitchell, Faerron, Araya; Salazar; Mora, Galo, Soto, Alcocer; Ugalde
Where to watch England v Costa Rica: TV channel, live streaming online
Broadcast live in the UK on ITV1 and STV.
Fans can stream the action via the ITV website and the ITVX app, available on a range of devices for viewing on the go.
England v Costa Rica stats
- England have faced Costa Rica on one occasion apart from the 2014 tie, winning 2-0 in a friendly in June 2018 with a brace from Marcus Rashford and one from Danny Welbeck at Elland Road.
- This was England’s last friendly before the 2018 World Cup, which they started with wins over Tunisia and Panama before losing to Belgium en route to the semi-finals.
- They are unbeaten in their last 16 games against South American countries (W12 D4), conceding four away goals.
- The only time England lost their last game before the final in 16 matches they participated in (W9 D6) was a 7-1 loss to Hungary in 1954.
- Harry Kane has 11 goals in his last 11 games for England and 10 of 10 against non-European countries.
- The captain will face Costa Rica for the first time, having scored for the Three Lions and 35 different countries – at least seven more than any other player.
- The 32-year-old scored his 79th goal in 113 games against New Zealand, extending his record as England’s top goalscorer 26 clear of runner-up Wayne Rooney.
- Ngumoha came on as a 17-year-old against New Zealand, becoming the youngest player to play for the Three Lions since fellow player Jude Bellingham, who was 155 days younger when he scored in November 2020.
- Costa Rica are winless in their last five matches in all competitions (D2 L3), as they are unbeaten in their previous 10 (W5 D5)
- Josimar Alcocer, who assisted Andrey Soto’s goal in the loss to Colombia, has attempted the third most in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League this season (155) and attempted the second most shots following the division (9).
