England trained in Florida on Friday as the squad sharpened up for a friendly against New Zealand on Saturday, with two warm-up matches left before its World Cup campaign begins. The visit to the United States gave a first clear look at England’s immediate preparation for next summer’s tournament, and at the same time FIFA unveiled a new pre-match ceremony it wants to use at every match in 2026.
That is why England football is being watched closely now. The team still has a second friendly against Costa Rica on 10 June before opening its World Cup group stage against Croatia on 17 June, so every session in Florida matters as the final phase of preparation begins. For supporters, the schedule is a reminder that the build-up is not far away from the tournament itself, and that FIFA is already changing how the event will look before the first ball is kicked.
Gianni Infantino described the ceremony as a way to bring the game closer to players and fans, saying the World Cup grows through innovation and that the new format reflects the idea that the tournament belongs to both. Under the plan, all available players in a squad will gather around the centre circle for the national anthems, with extra-large country flag banners behind them, while every player selected in the matchday squad will enter through a dedicated arch with mascots. FIFA said the idea is to create a 360-degree experience from every seat, with all players from both full squads, up to 52 if everyone is available, coming together for the line-ups and anthems.
The shift also answers a practical problem FIFA cannot ignore. At the 2025 Club World Cup, individual walk-on introductions for every starting player added time and pushed some kick-offs late, even though the same idea was meant to feel special. Earlier World Cups used a more traditional line-up, with the starting XI facing one stand and mascots in front of them, but the governing body is now betting that a larger, more theatrical ceremony will feel more inclusive rather than disruptive. Later in the 2026 tournament, FIFA says it will add coloured smoke or pyrotechnics to the presentation.
For England, the immediate focus remains simple: beat New Zealand on Saturday, get through Costa Rica four days later, and arrive in June with the rhythm of a team that has already been tested twice. For FIFA, the unresolved question is more delicate — whether a ceremony designed to look bigger will also work in the real world of stoppage time, television schedules and players waiting to start the match.
