Harry Kane headed England to a 1-0 warm-up friendly victory against New Zealand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kane headed in the winner from Djed Spence’s cross in the second-minute of first-half injury time as England enjoyed a solid if unspectacular victory in Tampa, USA.
The Three Lions now face Costa Rica in their second warm-up match in Orlando on Wednesday 10 June (9pm BST), whilst New Zealand prepare for their World Cup Group G opener against Iran.
Despite manager – Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave out some major names from the World Cup squad having caused intense scrutiny, England began on the front foot as Jordan Henderson saw a fifth-minute shot blocked.
New Zealand however showed a counter-attacking threat as a 11th-minute breakaway fell for Matthew Garbett but he scruffed his shot, whilst Sarpreet Singh fired wide after he picked up the loose ball.
England continued to pose issues as Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and Kobbie Mainoo put shots wide, whilst Harry Kane saw a shot and header punched away by Max Crocombe.
New Zealand’s defensive resilience eventually got broken in the second minute of first-half injury time as neat play up the left flank fell for Spence, which allowed the left-back to whip a cross into the box that Kane glanced unmarked into the far right corner to put the Three Lions in front at the break.
Tuchel however opted for a wholesale change of line-up for the second half which included a senior debut for Rio Ngumoha, who had travelled with the squad as a training player for the warm-up friendlies.
Aside from Dan Burn’s early header and Ngumoha’s blocked shot, England’s changes struggled to make much notable impact although Ivan Toney was brought down in the 58th minute but no penalty was awarded by VAR.
England continued to press but lacked a clinical final touch in their end product as Toney fired wide in injury time.
Teams
England: Jordan Pickford (Trafford 46′), Jarell Quansah (James 46′), John Stones (Burn 46′), Marc Guehi (Konsa 46′), Djed Spence (Livramento 46′), Jordan Henderson (Bellingham 46′), Kobbie Mainoo (O’Reilly 46′), Morgan Rogers (Anderson 46′), Ollie Watkins (Ngumoha 46′), Marcus Rashford (Gordon 46′), Harry Kane (Toney 46′)
Substitutes: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon, Dean Henderson, Reece James, Josh King, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Rio Ngumoha, Ethan Nwaneri, Nico O’Reilly, Alex Scott, Ivan Toney, James Trafford
New Zealand: Max Crocombe (Paulsen 84′), Tim Payne (Bindon 62′), Finn Surman (Pijnaker 85′), Michael Boxall (Elliot 85′), Liberato Cacace (Old 61′), Joe Bell (Rufer 46′), Marko Stamenic (Bayliss 84′), Elijah Just (De Vries 72′), Sarpreet Singh (McCowatt 84), Matthew Garbett (Randall 61′), Chris Wood (Barbarouses 78′)
Substitutes: Kosta Barbarouses, Lachlan Bayliss, Tyler Bindon, Callan Elliot, Callum McCowatt, Ben Old, Alex Paulsen, Nando Pijnaker, Jesse Randall, Alex Rufer, Tommy Smith, Ben Waine, Michael Woud, Francis de Vries
Referee – Natalie Simon
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