Match Delay in Orlando
A pre-World Cup friendly match between England and Costa Rica in Orlando, Florida, has been officially delayed due to a severe thunderstorm. The heavy rainfall has left the pitch at Inter&Co Stadium waterlogged, impacting the scheduled kick-off time of 9pm BST.
Stadium staff, accustomed to such weather conditions in Florida, have predicted further lightning. Safety protocols dictate a delay of 30 minutes after the last lightning strike. Organisers at the stadium anticipate more lightning, making the exact duration of the delay uncertain, though it is expected to be more than 20 minutes, potentially extending to an hour.
The initial kick-off was set for 4pm local time, with a flash of lightning observed at 1.38pm local time. According to stadium safety rules, if lightning is detected within eight miles, the referee can suspend the match, with play resuming no earlier than 45 minutes after the last strike. This 45-minute clock would reset with any further lightning activity.
Squad and Preparations
Despite the weather disruption, Thomas Tuchel‘s England squad continues its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The team arrived in Florida with a squad that has generated considerable discussion.
Declan Rice has been confirmed as vice-captain, supporting Harry Kane in the leadership structure. Kane, who had a record-breaking season at Bayern Munich, is expected to be central to England’s ambitions in the tournament.
In the starting line-up for this friendly, Jude Bellingham was selected over Morgan Rogers in the number 10 role. Declan Rice, who joined the squad late due to Arsenal‘s participation in the Champions League final, is back in midfield. His club teammate Noni Madueke was chosen over Bukayo Saka on the right wing.
Tuchel had previously expressed dissatisfaction with England’s performance in their recent 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa, describing the first-half approach as “freestyle” football that deviated from his tactical instructions. This fixture against Costa Rica provides an opportunity for the team to refine their structure and discipline ahead of the World Cup.
Wayne Rooney commented on Tuchel’s squad selection, stating his trust in the manager’s decisions, despite acknowledging that he might have made different choices. Rooney believes Tuchel is a top manager who understands the stakes and has picked a squad he thinks can compete to win the World Cup.
Team Form and Head-to-Head
England’s recent form includes three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five matches. Their most recent outing was the 1-0 victory against New Zealand. Prior to that, they drew 1-1 with Uruguay and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Japan in March. The team scored five goals and conceded three across these five games, which also included wins over Serbia and Albania in World Cup qualifying.
Costa Rica, managed by Miguel Herrera, has had a more challenging run, winning only one of their last five matches, with two draws and three defeats. Their most recent game was a 3-1 loss to Colombia, and they were beaten 5-0 by Iran in March. They conceded 11 goals and scored only four across these five fixtures.
Historically, England and Costa Rica have met twice. Their most recent encounter was in June 2018, a friendly that England won 2-0. Before that, they played to a 0-0 draw at the 2014 World Cup. Costa Rica has yet to score against England in these two previous meetings.
The match is scheduled to be broadcast live on free-to-air television in the UK on ITV1, with a live stream available via ITVX. Viewers in Scotland can watch on STV Scotland, with the STV Player offering the streaming option.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
