World Cup 2026 LIVE: Latest news and updates as England train ahead of Costa Rica game

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·8 June 2026

World Cup 2026 LIVE: Latest news and updates as England train ahead of Costa Rica game

World Cup fever is building with tournament opening game just days away

The biggest sporting competition the world has ever seen begins this week as United States, Mexico and Canada welcome 45 other nations to their shores for the 2026 World Cup. A record-breaking tournament will see the most matches ever - 104 games across 16 host cities - and, organisers’ claim, the biggest attendances.

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England have been in Florida for a week, and beat New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday in their first of two warm-up friendlies ahead of their opening game. Harry Kane scored the only goal in an unimpressive 1-0 win, and head coach Thomas Tuchel spoke afterwards at his displeasure at his players’ “freestyle” approach to the game in the first half, before improving after the break.

Up next for the Three Lions is Costa Rica at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, which should include the four late-arriving Arsenal stars, before the squad fly out to their World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 13. You can follow all the latest news and updates from across the tournament - including insight and analysis from Dom Smith in the States - with our rolling news live blog below!

Live updates

27 minutes ago

Nine injured in shooting near England's World Cup base

Nine people have been injured in a shooting close to the England squad’s World Cup training ground in Kansas City, Missouri, according to reports in the United States.

The team were not at their hotel during the shooting at around 4am local time on Saturday, having been preparing for their friendly game against New Zealand in Florida.

Police were called to reports of an incident on Troost Avenue around five miles from the training base Thomas Tuchel’s side will use during the tournament.

The Athletic reported that officers had been dispatched after shots were heard being fired and arrived to find a large crowd dispersing. Three adult females had sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.

It was later reported that nine adults had gone to various local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. No suspects are in custody but officers are continuing to patrol the location.

30 minutes ago

Tuchel on what Arsenal stars will add to World Cup camp

Thomas Tuchel believes that the four Arsenal stars joining England’s camp will give the squad a lift as they prepare for the World Cup.

Tuchel has been unable to call upon Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze after the quartet were given additional rest following the Gunners’ Champions League final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain last month.

The Three Lions lacked dynamism for large parts in the Tampa heat, but Tuchel thinks that his returning stars will be able to change that.

“The Arsenal players are in from today which is good because it gives us energy and quality,” he told ITV.

“We will acclimatise to the humidity and the sun whilst we are here. The most positive thing is that we can keep training with the whole group because no one is injured. We have no complaints.”

1 hour ago

England vice-captain for World Cup confirmed

Declan Rice has pipped Jude Bellingham to the England vice-captaincy for the World Cup.

Harry Kane donned the armband as the Three Lions beat New Zealand in a friendly on Saturday night, but Jude Bellingham inherited it when Thomas Tuchel made eleven half-time substitutions.

But the Real Madrid midfielder will not serve as Kane’s understudy once the tournament gets underway, with the late-arriving Rice preferred by Tuchel.

Rice joined the England camp on Saturday, arriving late alongside his Arsenal team-mates Eberchi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke after they were handed extra time off following the Champions League final.

Rice is a member of Tuchel’s leadership group, and has won the armband before.

Read more here!

1 hour ago

Arsenal stars join England squad in Florida

Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have joined up with the England squad following their Champions League final defeat.

The foursome were given extended leave due to their clash with Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest six days after the end of the Premier League season.

The Gunners lost on penaties in agonishing fashion, as Eze and then Gabriel missed from 12 yards, but still had plenty to celebrate at their trophy parade the following day after winning the Premier League title.

But for Saka, Rice, Eze and Madueke, it is now full focus on England.

1 hour ago

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE continued coverage of the 2026 World Cup.

We are just three days away from the big kick-off, with all 48 nations competing now at their World Cup bases ahead of the tournament curtain-raiser on Thursday.

Stick with us all the way until the final on July 19 as the biggest sporting show on earth thrills the globe.