England players have departed for the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with head coach Thomas Tuchel expressing confidence in the team's ability to overcome the challenges of heat and humidity. The squad flew from Birmingham to Miami on Monday for a 10-day hot-weather acclimatisation camp in Florida.
Team GB assistance and preparation
Tuchel revealed that Team GB have been helping England prepare for the expected high temperatures, drawing on their Olympic experiences. Specialists from around the world have also contributed to developing cooling strategies and acclimatisation plans. 'The heat is a challenge but we are prepared already,' Tuchel told Sky Sports. 'We know the individual reaction of the players to the heat and we have cooling strategies in place.'
Squad updates and arrival plans
Most of the 26-player squad have already arrived or are en route to West Palm Beach, where they will prepare for a friendly against New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday. However, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze have been given extra recovery time after Saturday's Champions League final. Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who played in the Conference League final last week, is also expected to join later.
The other 21 players, some of whom were on holiday in the Americas and Caribbean, will meet up in Florida to begin training. Tuchel acknowledged that the heat is not in England's favour after a long club season, but emphasised that the team is not making excuses. 'It is a factor but it should not come across that we are already making excuses,' he said. 'It's just not in our favour and it is an obstacle to overcome.'
Heat concerns and tournament outlook
Scorching heat was a major concern at the June-July 2025 Club World Cup in the US, with medical experts and players' unions expressing concerns about heat stress, dehydration and slower recovery times. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, will also feature matches at altitude in Mexico, adding further challenges.
Despite these obstacles, Tuchel remains optimistic about England's prospects. 'When I reconnected with the games and built our training sessions and meetings to reconnect the team in Florida with what we have built already, I saw a lot of quality,' he said. 'That instantly gave me the full belief and excitement that we can go a long way.'
