World Cup 2026: England Consider Extra Friendly After Croatia Opener

England are in talks to arrange a behind-closed-doors training match against Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City after their World Cup opener against Croatia.

The potential friendly would likely take place in the gap between Wednesday’s match against Croatia in Dallas and England’s second group game against Ghana next Tuesday. The fixture would be used as an additional opportunity to maintain sharpness and match fitness during the tournament, particularly for players who are not expected to feature heavily in the opening game.

Negotiations over the training match are understood to be ongoing, although details have not yet been finalized. Sources close to the Football Association say the opposition and other arrangements are still to be confirmed.

England are based in Kansas City for the duration of the tournament and train daily at Swope Soccer Village, which is around 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre. Sporting Kansas City, the MLS side being discussed as a possible opponent, are managed by former Switzerland international Raphael Wicky.

England have already played one closed-door match in the United States during their pre-tournament preparations. That game took place against Miami FC during their training camp in Florida.

If the Sporting Kansas City match is agreed, it would provide England with another low-profile opportunity to keep squad players involved and ready for selection as they move through the group stage. Closed-door games are often used to test tactics, maintain rhythm and ensure the wider squad remains in competitive condition without the pressure or exposure of a public fixture.

For England, the proposed game would fit into a tightly managed schedule designed to balance recovery, preparation and squad rotation. With the short turnaround between group matches, additional training competition could be especially valuable for players needing minutes after limited involvement against Croatia.

The talks are still at an early stage, and no official announcement has been made. Any decision is expected to depend on scheduling, logistics and final agreement between all parties involved.