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England Thrashes Costa Rica 3-0 in Rain-Delayed Warm-up

6/11/2026

26 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

England Thrashes Costa Rica

England defeated Costa Rica 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on June 10, 2026.
The match was delayed one hour because of thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain.
Rice scored in the ninth minute, Gordon converted a penalty in the 68th, and Watkins headed the third in the 87th.
England used the win to fine-tune its lineup before its World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17, 2026.

Summary

Tuchel Flags Lightning

Tuchel said the lightning delay was a taste of what can happen in the World Cup.
U.S. rules require a 30-minute lightning-free period within eight miles before play resumes.
Fans were told to leave the stands and shelter in concourses, the venue’s X account saying it was safe.
Orlando will not host any World Cup matches while a storm caused a 4-hour-38-minute delay in last year’s Club World Cup.

History

Historical Context

Hosted by the United States, the 1994 World Cup featured the first indoor World Cup game at the Pontiac Silverdome on June 18 1994 and set a record total attendance of 3,587,538. Decades later, England’s 3-0 victory over Costa Rica at Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium was also halted by a thunderstorm, underscoring FIFA’s ongoing focus on match-day safety.

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England Thrashes Costa Rica

England defeated Costa Rica 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on June 10, 2026.
The match was delayed one hour because of thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain.
Rice scored in the ninth minute, Gordon converted a penalty in the 68th, and Watkins headed the third in the 87th.
England used the win to fine-tune its lineup before its World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17, 2026.

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