England concludes World Cup preparations against rebuilding Costa Rica

England's national football team is set to play their final preparation match for the 2026 World Cup against Costa Rica on Wednesday. The friendly will take place at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

The English squad, managed by Thomas Tuchel, used their previous match against New Zealand to give playing time to the entire roster. This included key players like Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, Marcus Rashford, and Barcelona's new signing Anthony Gordon. England secured a narrow 1-0 victory in that game, with a goal from Bayern Munich star Harry Kane, who is expected to continue his scoring streak against Costa Rica.

For Costa Rica, the match represents a crucial step in their rebuilding process under Argentine coach Fernando Batista. The team did not qualify for the upcoming World Cup and is focused on developing a new generation of players. Their recent performance in a 3-1 friendly loss to Colombia on June 1 showed some promising signs of Batista's tactical approach, despite the defeat.

Batista, in his fourth match leading Costa Rica, has emphasized the team's current stage of construction, noting the squad's average age of 24. Notable absences from the current setup include veteran goalkeeper Keylor Navas, aged 39. The team's aspirations extend beyond this friendly, aiming to consolidate their squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League and, more importantly, the 2030 World Cup qualifiers. Key players for Costa Rica include Manfred Ugalde of Spartak Moscow, Josimar Alcocer from Westerlo, Jeyland Mitchell of Sturm Graz, and Patrick Sequeira of Casa Pia.