England vs New Zealand: Team news, predictions, where to watch
Preview, team news, head-to-head, betting predictions, probable line-ups and where to watch England vs New Zealand in Saturday’s friendly game ahead of the World Cup
England are set to take on New Zealand as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America. Scheduled to take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday at 21:00 BST (22:00 CEST / 16:00 ET / 13:00 PT), it will be the first of two friendlies ahead of the Three Lions’ World Cup kick-off on June 17.
With the tournament just days away, this fixture offers Thomas Tuchel an opportunity to fine tune his squad, assess player fitness and build momentum before England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will use the occasion as valuable preparation ahead of their own World Cup campaign after qualifying for the finals for the first time since 2010.
England
England’s preparations have been slightly disrupted by the delayed arrival of several players following club commitments. Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze joined the squad later after the Champions League final, while Dean Henderson is set to arrive late following Crystal Palace‘s European commitments. As a result, Tuchel may rotate heavily and use the match to assess fringe players ahead of finalising his preferred World Cup starting XI.
New Zealand
The All Whites appear to have a largely healthy squad available. Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood remains the focal point of the attack, while midfielders Marko Stamenic and Joe Bell provide experience and composure in possession.
Head-to-head (H2H) record
England and New Zealand have met only twice at senior men’s international level, with both encounters taking place during England’s tour of New Zealand in 1991. England won both matches and have never conceded against the All Whites.
Previous meetings:
08/06/1991: New Zealand 0-1 England (Friendly)
02/06/1991: New Zealand 0-2 England (Friendly)
England vs New Zealand probable line-ups
England predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford; Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly; Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham; Noni Madueke, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane
New Zealand predicted XI (4-4-2): Alex Paulsen; Tim Payne, Michael Boxall, Finn Surman, Ben Old; Eli Just, Marko Stamenic, Joe Bell, Jesse Randall; Chris Wood, Kosta Barbarouses.
Where to watch England vs New Zealand
The match kicks off on Saturday at 21:00 BST from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. In the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast live on ITV1, with streaming available through ITVX.
In the United States, supporters can watch via FOX Sports and stream through the FOX Sports App. New Zealand viewers can follow the match live on Sky Sport NZ.
Market insights & probability predictions
Current market projections make England clear favourites to secure victory in Tampa, reflecting the significant gap in squad depth and quality between the two nations. England are given a 78% chance of winning the match, while the draw is rated at 15% and a New Zealand victory at 7%.
Markets also expect England to create numerous scoring opportunities, with over 2.5 goals viewed as a likely outcome.
