England close the book on their pre-tournament preparation on Wednesday night, taking on Costa Rica in the steamy heat of Orlando in what is the final dress rehearsal before the 2026 World Cup gets underway. Kick-off is set for 21:00 BST (16:00 ET) at the Inter&Co Stadium, and UK viewers can catch every minute live on ITV1, with build-up starting an hour earlier. Below you’ll find our full England vs Costa Rica match prediction, the latest odds, team news and the betting tips we like most for this one.
When and where: England vs Costa Rica match details
This international friendly takes place on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, with the whistle blowing at 21:00 UK time. The venue is Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium, home of Orlando City, and it marks a rare appearance on American soil for the Three Lions — their first match at the ground and one of only a handful of games they’ve played in the United States in more than two decades.
For Thomas Tuchel, this is the last 90 minutes of meaningful experimentation before England open their Group L campaign against Croatia. Ghana and Panama complete a group that, on paper, should be navigable, but Tuchel will want momentum and clarity in his strongest XI before the real thing begins.
Form guide: how both teams are shaping up
England arrived in Florida on the back of a 1-0 win over New Zealand, settled by a trademark Harry Kane header right before half-time. It was a result without the performance, though. Tuchel fielded essentially two different elevens across the 90 minutes to spread minutes around the squad in hot conditions, and he admitted afterwards that he wasn’t thrilled with what he saw. The captain has now scored seven goals in just three outings, a reminder that even in patchy team displays, Kane remains the reliable constant.
Look closer at England’s friendly record and there’s a small wrinkle worth noting: their recent form in non-competitive meetings is unconvincing, with only three wins from their last nine. That said, qualifying told a very different story — Tuchel’s side were close to flawless, combining attacking quality with several clean sheets and booking their World Cup spot with room to spare.
Costa Rica, by contrast, walk in carrying a heavy slump. Ranked 52nd by FIFA, Los Ticos failed to qualify for the World Cup and are now in an open rebuild under head coach Fernando Batista, who has publicly framed these June fixtures as a testing ground for a brand-new generation. They’ve won only once in their last nine games, are without a victory in five, and — most alarmingly for a side facing England — have shipped ten goals across their previous three meetings. The defensive frailty is real, and against this calibre of opponent it could be exposed quickly.
Head-to-head record
History is firmly on England’s side, even if the sample is tiny. The two nations have met only twice. The first was a goalless draw at the 2014 World Cup, a dead rubber for an already-eliminated England. The second came in a 2018 pre-tournament friendly at Elland Road, which England won 2-0 thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Danny Welbeck.
One stat jumps out from those meetings: Costa Rica have never scored against England. For a team currently leaking goals, keeping that record intact on Wednesday looks like a tall order.
Team news and predicted line-ups
The biggest boost for Tuchel is timing. The Arsenal contingent — Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke — joined up late after being granted extra rest following the Champions League final, and they’re now available for selection. Saka and Rice in particular are expected to slot straight into the starting side.
Unlike the rotation-heavy New Zealand game, this is the match where Tuchel is likely to show his hand. Expect something close to the team he intends to start against Croatia. A widely tipped England XI in a 4-2-3-1 shape reads: Pickford in goal; a back four of Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones and Nico O’Reilly; Rice partnering a midfielder such as Elliot Anderson; Saka, Jude Bellingham and a left-sided attacker like Anthony Gordon supporting Kane up top. The one genuine debate is the number 10 role, where Bellingham’s lively cameo against New Zealand makes a strong case, though Morgan Rogers remains in contention.
For Costa Rica, Batista is expected to rotate and trial fringe options as he reshapes the squad for the next CONCACAF qualifying cycle. That likely means an even bigger gulf in quality than the rankings already suggest.
England vs Costa Rica odds
The bookmakers see this as one of the most one-sided friendlies on the calendar. England are trading as short as 1.12–1.19 (around 1/8 to 1/7) to win outright depending on the site, with the draw out around 8.5 and a Costa Rica victory a huge price at roughly 22.0.
Goals markets are priced cautiously given England’s habit of grinding out low-scoring friendly wins. Both Teams to Score “No” sits around 1.54, while Under 2.5 goals can be found near 2.33 — a reflection that England often dominate possession without running up a cricket score in these warm-ups. Odds move quickly close to kick-off, so always confirm prices with your bookmaker before placing any bet.
England vs Costa Rica prediction and betting tips
Everything points to a comfortable England win. The quality gap is enormous, Costa Rica are defensively wide open, and Tuchel will want a confidence-boosting display heading into Croatia. The only real caveat is the nature of friendlies — England have a tendency to control games without converting their dominance into a flurry of goals, and the Orlando heat could sap the tempo.
That blend of factors shapes our picks. A straight England win is the banker but offers little value at such short odds. The smarter play is to combine it with a goals cap.
Our headline tip: England to win and Under 3.5 goals, which boosts the price closer to even money and has landed in many of England’s recent outings, including the New Zealand game. We also like Costa Rica failing to score, given their drought against England and their leaky recent defending. For those wanting a player angle, Harry Kane anytime scorer is rarely a bad shout given his ruthless run of form, while a handicap such as England -1.5 or -2 appeals to anyone confident the floodgates open against a makeshift visiting side.
Score prediction: England 2-0 Costa Rica. A professional, low-fuss win that keeps the clean sheet record against Los Ticos intact and sends Tuchel’s men into the tournament on a positive note.
Frequently asked questions
What time is England vs Costa Rica kick-off? The match kicks off at 21:00 BST (16:00 ET) on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando.
Where can I watch England vs Costa Rica in the UK? It’s live on ITV1, with coverage beginning around 20:00 BST. BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT are providing commentary.
Who is favourite to win? England are overwhelming favourites at around 1.12–1.19, with Costa Rica priced near 22.0 and the draw around 8.5.
What is the England vs Costa Rica prediction? We’re backing a 2-0 England win, with “England to win and Under 3.5 goals” as our value tip.
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