England have confirmed their pre-World Cup preparations with friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica in south Florida. The matches are scheduled for June 6 and June 10 respectively, serving as the final tune-ups before the tournament begins. Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions will be among the favorites for the tournament as they seek their first major trophy since 1966.

In addition to the friendly schedule, the Football Association has announced that England will be based in Kansas City, Missouri throughout the entire tournament. The team will train at Swope Soccer Village, one of Sporting Kansas City's training facilities that also hosts MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT sides. This decision follows an extensive search by the FA, which identified the facility as their preferred destination last year.

The Kansas City base offers strategic advantages, being just a two-hour flight from Dallas where England's opening group match against Croatia will take place on June 17. The location also provides convenient access to Boston and New Jersey, venues for England's subsequent group games against Ghana and Panama. These preparations mark the beginning of England's campaign to end their 60-year trophy drought on the world stage.