Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Kansas City Royals baseball game, while his squad split their time between rest and a behind-closed-doors friendly. The 2026 World Cup is underway, and England have already played their opening group match, beating Croatia 4-2 in Dallas. Tuchel, captain Harry Kane, and defenders Dan Burn and Djed Spence attended the baseball game at Kauffman Stadium on a recovery day. Meanwhile, players who did not feature heavily in the Croatia win got game time in a friendly against Major League Soccer side Sporting KC, which England won 5-1.
The basics: England are competing in Group L at the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. They have one win so far, and their next group game is against Ghana on Tuesday in Boston. The squad is based at a training facility in Kansas City, where they have access to a dedicated training ground and can arrange practice matches. The friendly against Sporting KC was held at England's Swope Soccer Village training facility. Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick for England in that match, with Aston Villa duo Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins also on the scoresheet. Other players involved included Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Kobbie Mainoo, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah. The game was split into two halves of around 25 minutes each.
“England's World Cup 2026 preparations: Tuchel's squad balance rest and a friendly win.”
Background: This is England's first World Cup under Thomas Tuchel, who took over as manager after Gareth Southgate. The tournament marks the first time the World Cup has been held in three countries and the first with 48 teams. England's warm-up and group-stage preparation have been carefully managed, with the Football Association arranging the friendly against Sporting KC specifically to give minutes to players who had not played much in the opening match. The decision to rest key players like Harry Kane, who played the full 90 minutes against Croatia, reflects the balance Tuchel is trying to strike between keeping players match-fit and avoiding burnout. Kane, who scored twice in the Croatia win, used the recovery day to watch baseball and later posted about it on social media, saying: "Great recovery day with the boys at the baseball. Would love to give batting a go one day!"
Why it matters for UK readers: England fans will be watching closely to see how Tuchel's methods translate to tournament success. The behind-closed-doors friendly gave a glimpse of the depth in the squad, with players like Ivan Toney and Morgan Rogers impressing. Toney's hat-trick, in particular, will fuel debate over whether he should start against Ghana or remain an impact substitute. The recovery day and baseball visit show the relaxed atmosphere Tuchel is trying to foster, but also the careful planning needed to keep players fresh across a long tournament. For UK viewers, England's next match is against Ghana on Tuesday at 21:00 BST, broadcast live on BBC.
Key questions answered: Q: Did England win their first World Cup match? A: Yes, England beat Croatia 4-2 in Dallas in their opening Group L match. Harry Kane scored two goals, and Thomas Tuchel's side took three points.
Q: Why did England play a friendly during the World Cup? A: The Football Association arranged the behind-closed-doors friendly against Sporting KC to give game time to players who did not feature or played few minutes in the Croatia match. It was a way to keep the whole squad match-fit.
Q: Who scored for England in the friendly against Sporting KC? A: Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick, while Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins also found the net in a 5-1 victory. The game was played at England's Swope Soccer Village training facility.
What happens next: England will face Ghana in their second group match on Tuesday in Boston (21:00 BST). Depending on other results, England could secure qualification to the knockout stages with a win. The squad will continue training and recovery, with Tuchel likely to rotate players to keep energy levels high. Meanwhile, other World Cup groups are being decided, with Canada and Qatar involved in a post-match brawl and a health update on Canada's Ismael Kone emerging. England fans will also keep an eye on the Premier League fixture release for the 2026-27 season, which was announced during the tournament.