World Cup 2026: Five positives for England from the tournament

Away from the football, one of the main storylines of the 2026 World Cup will be the conditions players – and fans – face during matches.

It wasn’t just the heat – humidity, lightning and rain It affected all the games.

While England benefited from some games being played in air-conditioned stadiums, such as in Atlanta against DRC, other conditions were less forgiving. For their quarter-final match against Norway, Miami will face suffocating humidity and high temperatures.

The much-talked-about Azteca Stadium in Mexico proved to be a major hurdle for the team to overcome in England’s Round of 16 tie against fellow host nations. And that’s before you take into account Mexico’s terrible home record and terrible form on the ground.

Despite this, England adapted well and did not seem to be troubled by the external conditions imposed during the games – or at least they struggled less than their opponents.

While pre-tournament training camps help with preparation, the mental and physical strength of the players is testament to their ability to cope with oppressive conditions at best against opponents accustomed to playing in inclement weather. This can stop them well for known situations. Available at Euro 2028.