Jordan Henderson on England's Preparation for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Jordan Henderson insists England will grow into the furnace-like conditions of the United States as the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup gathers pace.
The Brentford midfielder played the first 45 minutes of England’s 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa, Florida, a game defined as much by the heat as by Harry Kane’s decisive header seconds before half-time. Thomas Tuchel used the friendly to test his squad’s depth, sending out a completely different XI in each half.
For Henderson, this trip is as much about physiology as tactics.
“You just build your capacity to these conditions,” he told the BBC, reflecting on the challenge of playing across such a vast country with wildly different climates. “I know that depends on where you're playing in the country, it can be different all over so it's hard to really adapt but it's about this week to build that capacity, to get used to the heat a little bit.
“The warm-up games will be good for that as well and to get that exposure just best we can, we've got an amazing team behind the team and how much research they've done and tried to cool down and recovery and all that sort of stuff so that's top, top level.
“Hopefully that can give us a little edge as well when we get into the tournament but it's the same for everyone so we've just got to go and try to just concentrate on the football.”
England face Costa Rica on Wednesday at 9pm BST in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Then comes the real thing: Croatia in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday 17 June, also a 9pm BST kick-off, where the heat will again be a central character in the story.
Brazil sharpen edge as Thiago features in Cleveland
While England were grinding through the Florida humidity, Brazil were finding their rhythm in Cleveland, Ohio.
Igor Thiago led the line as Carlo Ancelotti’s side beat Egypt 2-1, a scoreline that only hints at the churn of the game. Bruno Guimarães struck early, only for Mostafa Zico to hit back quickly and level it.
The real shift came after the interval. Ancelotti made eight changes at half-time, one of them Brentford striker Thiago, and the fresh legs tilted the contest. Endrick, supplied by Raphinha, curled into the far corner shortly after the restart to settle it.
Brazil now head to New York, where they open their Group C campaign against Morocco on Saturday 13 June at 11pm BST.
Hickey part of Scotland rout in New Jersey
In Harrison, New Jersey, Scotland did more than tune up; they cut loose.
Aaron Hickey played just over an hour as Steve Clarke’s side dismantled Bolivia 4-0, all four goals coming before the break. Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay and a brace from Che Adams ripped through the South Americans and turned the second half into a controlled procession.
It was the kind of statement friendly that sends a squad into a tournament with shoulders back and heads high. Scotland begin their Group C journey against Haiti in Boston on Sunday 14 June, with a 2am BST kick-off.
Ajer helps Norway hold Morocco
Back in Harrison, another Brentford defender was on duty as Kristoffer Ajer’s Norway drew 1-1 with Morocco.
Brahim Díaz struck early to give Morocco the lead and hint at a long evening for Norway, but Martin Ødegaard levelled in the second half to restore parity. Ajer played 72 minutes, a solid run-out against high-calibre opposition.
From Tampa to Cleveland to New Jersey, the stories differ but the theme is the same: minutes in the legs, systems tested, bodies pushed to the limit. The heat is unforgiving, the schedule relentless. The question now is simple – who will turn this preparation into something lasting when the World Cup finally kicks off?
