Thunderstorm in Orlando delays England's final World Cup warm-up against Costa Rica

Weather hits Orlando

England's final friendly before the 2026 World Cup was thrown into uncertainty on Wednesday when a heavy thunderstorm struck Orlando. The match against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium was scheduled for 4 p.m. local time (9 p.m. BST), but torrential rain and lightning forced officials to delay kick-off. A Football Association statement confirmed the delay, saying updates would follow as soon as they were available.

Pitch conditions and inspection

Rain battered the Florida city from around 1 p.m. local time, leaving the pitch heavily waterlogged an hour and a half before the scheduled start. Although the surface drained quickly, standing water remained a concern. A pitch inspection was set for 3:15 p.m. local time, with kick-off likely to be pushed back by at least an hour. The delay could extend further if another lightning strike occurs within an eight-mile radius of the stadium.

Saka's fitness in focus

Away from the weather, manager Thomas Tuchel has been managing Bukayo Saka's recovery from an Achilles injury sustained in March. The 24-year-old forward played through discomfort to help Arsenal secure their first Premier League title in more than two decades and also featured in the Champions League final defeat to Paris St Germain on penalties.

Bukayo is still getting there, playing through discomfort at the end of the season, but obviously managing it and playing at a high level, but still not at 100%. He is the one we are building and taking care of in training.

Tuchel noted that Saka has missed consecutive training sessions and requires careful handling, similar to the approach Arsenal took late in the season. Saka scored three goals in four appearances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and is seen as central to England's ambitions.

Countdown to the tournament

The friendly is England's last test before the World Cup begins on Thursday, 11 June. Tuchel's squad will then travel to their base in Kansas City ahead of their opening Group L match against Croatia on 17 June in Dallas, a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final. England are considered among the favourites to lift the trophy.

Fans take shelter

Supporters already in the area sought cover where they could, with some ducking into a local library while others braved the elements. The heavy rain had begun to subside as fans started entering the stadium, though the match remained in doubt pending the inspection.