England close out their 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations with a final friendly against Costa Rica at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday night. Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions will be looking for a sharp, confident performance after a laboured 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday – and with the World Cup opener against Croatia just seven days away on June 17, this is the last chance to put the finishing touches on his starting lineup. Here is everything you need to know about how to watch the England vs Costa Rica live stream, the full TV schedule by region, and the predicted lineups for both sides.
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Kick-off: 9:00 PM BST / 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM local (Orlando)
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida, USA
Competition: International Friendly (World Cup 2026 warm-up)
How to Watch England vs Costa Rica Live Stream
United Kingdom
In the UK, the match is broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage starting at 8:00 PM BST ahead of the 9:00 PM kick-off. UK viewers can also stream it free via the ITVX app or website, no subscription required, just a free account. BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT will both provide full live audio commentary for fans on the go.
United States
Fans in the US can follow the action through:
- ESPN (English-language broadcast)
- ESPN App (free live stream with a TV provider login)
- ESPN Deportes (Spanish-language cable broadcast)
- FuboTV (streaming subscription, free trial available)
- Sling TV (subscription service including ESPN channels)
- YouTube TV (subscription, includes ESPN)
The Inter&Co Stadium is in Orlando, Florida, making this a home fixture in all but name for England and an easy live watch for East Coast fans with a 4:00 PM ET kick-off.
Costa Rica
Costa Rican fans can watch the match live on Teletica (Channel 7), the country’s main free-to-air sports broadcaster, and via the Teletica Play streaming app.
Global
For fans in other regions, ESPN international affiliates typically carry England friendly matches. In countries without confirmed coverage, the ITVX app is free for UK residents; a VPN connecting to a UK server can allow fans abroad to access it, though always check the service’s terms of use first.
Match Details at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs Costa Rica |
| Date | Wednesday, June 10, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 9:00 PM(BST), 4:00 PM(ET), 1:00 PM(PT) |
| Venue | Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida |
| Capacity | ~25,500 |
| Competition | International Friendly |
| UK TV | ITV1 (coverage from 8:00 PM BST) |
Predicted Lineups
Official lineups are confirmed approximately one hour before kick-off. All predicted XIs below are based on confirmed squad availability, recent selections and pre-match reports.
England Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
This is the match where Tuchel is widely expected to finally name something close to his strongest possible lineup. After rotating heavily against New Zealand, playing two entirely different XIs across the two halves, the German head coach has since admitted he was not satisfied with the performance. With Croatia on the horizon, Wednesday night is the moment for clarity.
The biggest squad news ahead of this game is the return of the Arsenal quartet: Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have all joined the England camp after being given extra rest following Arsenal’s Champions League final. Rice and Saka are both expected to start immediately.
Harry Kane will be among a handful of starters retained after scoring his 79th international goal against New Zealand, and his next cap will draw him level with Steven Gerrard on 114 for his country.
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Jordan Pickford | Everton |
| RB | Reece James | Chelsea |
| CB | John Stones | Manchester City |
| CB | Marc Guehi | Crystal Palace |
| LB | Tino Livramento | Newcastle United |
| CM | Declan Rice | Arsenal |
| CM | Elliot Anderson | Newcastle United |
| RW | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal |
| AM | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid |
| LW | Marcus Rashford | Aston Villa |
| ST | Harry Kane | Bayern Munich |
Expected to feature in the second half: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Key selection battles to watch:
- Left-back: Tino Livramento vs Nico O’Reilly, both were used against New Zealand, and O’Reilly is considered the favourite to start the World Cup, making this a defining audition
- Central midfield: Elliot Anderson vs Kobbie Mainoo alongside Rice, Anderson could get the first-half nod
- Left wing: Marcus Rashford vs Anthony Gordon, Rashford impressed against New Zealand and is pushing hard for a World Cup start
Costa Rica Predicted XI (4-4-2 / 4-5-1)
Costa Rica is ranked 52nd in the world by FIFA and arrives in Orlando as clear underdogs. Head coach Fernando Batista, early in his tenure, is building towards the future after his side failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. They lost 3-1 to Colombia on June 1 and have struggled defensively throughout the June window, conceding at least twice in all three of their internationals this year.
The squad is notably missing several key players. Legendary goalkeeper Keylor Navas is absent as Batista looks for a long-term replacement for the 39-year-old. Additionally, midfielder Alejandro Bran and forwards Kenneth Vargas and Warren Madrigal were initially in the squad but have all been sent home due to disciplinary issues, with a police investigation underway following an alleged shooting incident. Joel Campbell, the 150-cap former Arsenal forward, was not called up for the June squad at all.
The attacking responsibility falls on Manfred Ugalde of Spartak Moscow, Costa Rica’s leading scorer this month with 11 international goals to his name.
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Patrick Sequeira | — |
| RB | Haxzel Quirós | — |
| CB | Jeyland Mitchell | — |
| CB | Fernán Faerron | — |
| LB | Aarón Salazar | — |
| RM | Carlos Mora | Universitatea Craiova |
| CM | Orlando Galo | — |
| CM | Andrey Soto | — |
| LM | Josimar Alcócer | — |
| AM | Darril Araya | — |
| ST | Manfred Ugalde | Spartak Moscow |
Why This Match Matters: England’s Final World Cup 2026 Dress Rehearsal
For Tuchel, who took charge of England in January 2025, this friendly carries a clear purpose: finalise the starting XI and tactical shape before the pressure of a World Cup group stage begins. Both warm-up games against New Zealand in Tampa and now Costa Rica in Orlando are part of England’s acclimatisation camp in South Florida, designed to prepare the squad for the intense summer heat they will face across the US, Canada and Mexico.
The manager was openly critical of his team’s display against New Zealand. Despite the narrow victory, he publicly stated he was “not super happy” with the performance, particularly in possession and without the ball. The return of Rice, Saka, Eze and Madueke from Arsenal’s Champions League commitments gives him a full squad to work with for the first time in this window and removes any excuses for a tepid showing.
For the duration of the World Cup, England will be based in Kansas City, Missouri, training at Swope Soccer Village, one of Sporting Kansas City’s facilities. The squad will travel to all their matches from Kansas City.
England’s World Cup 2026 Group L Fixtures
England have been drawn into Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Croatia, who knocked England out at the semi-final stage of the 2018 World Cup, are the headline fixture.
Group L Schedule:
- June 17: England vs Croatia — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (4:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM BST)
- June 23: England vs Ghana — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts (4:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM BST)
- June 27: England vs Panama — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (5:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM BST)
All three group games will be broadcast on ITV in the UK and on FOX in the United States.
Costa Rica: A Young Team in Transition
Costa Rica did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, missing out during the CONCACAF qualifying campaign. The federation has responded by bringing in Fernando Batista and beginning a youth-focused rebuild, a familiar approach for a nation that has punched above its weight at previous tournaments, most memorably reaching the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
This England friendly is the final match of Costa Rica’s June window and comes after a chastening 3-1 defeat to Colombia. Without established stars like Keylor Navas and Joel Campbell, the squad features a largely unfamiliar cast. Their best hope of causing problems lies in transition football and the direct running of Ugalde, who has been the liveliest attacking presence in this window.
Head-to-Head History
England and Costa Rica have met three times in total, with England winning two and drawing one:
- June 1990, World Cup group stage (Italy): England 0-0 Costa Rica (Costa Rica’s greatest ever result at the time)
- June 2014, World Cup group stage (Brazil): England 0-0 Costa Rica, a result that sealed England’s group-stage exit
- June 2018, friendly (Elland Road, Leeds): England 2-0 Costa Rica, Marcus Rashford and Danny Welbeck on the scoresheet
England have never lost to Costa Rica in a senior international. Wednesday’s game will be their fourth meeting.
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
The Inter&Co Stadium is home to both MLS side Orlando City and Orlando Pride of the NWSL. The venue has previously hosted major football events including World Cup qualifiers, the SheBelieves Cup and the 2019 MLS All-Star Game. With a capacity of around 25,500, it will be a tight, lively atmosphere — and with thousands of travelling England supporters in the official allocation, expect a vocal away end despite the Florida heat. Temperatures in Orlando on Wednesday evening are forecast to be around 30°C (86°F), continuing the acclimatisation challenge that has been a feature of England’s entire Florida camp.
Tips for Watching the England vs Costa Rica Live Stream
- UK fans: ITV1 is free-to-air and ITVX streams it free online or via app. Coverage starts 8:00 PM BST – an ideal prime-time kick-off. No subscription needed.
- US fans: The ESPN App and FuboTV are your most reliable streaming options. FuboTV offers a free trial. Kick-off is 4:00 PM ET – perfect for an after-work watch on the East Coast.
- Radio: BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT both have live commentary – great for listening in the car or on the move.
- Abroad: ITVX with a VPN (UK server) or the ESPN App are the cleanest options for fans travelling outside their home region.
- Mobile: The ITVX, ESPN and FuboTV apps all support iOS and Android for full mobile live streaming.
England vs Costa Rica is Tuchel’s final chance to lay his cards on the table before the World Cup begins. With Rice, Saka, Bellingham and Kane all expected to feature from the start and Costa Rica arriving without key players and short on confidence after a 3-1 loss to Colombia, England are heavy favourites and expected to put in a performance that sends a message to their World Cup rivals. The story, though, is less about the result and more about the lineup – who starts, how England set up, and whether Tuchel has found the answers he needs heading into Croatia on June 17.
