John Stones says England’s first pre-World Cup friendly in the US will be part of a “progression” when they face fellow finals participants New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday.
England meet Costa Rica in Orlando four days later, then take on familiar opponents Croatia in their tournament opener on June 17 (21:00 BST).
“For us as lads, it’s a chance to get used to each other out there on the pitch, create connections and take what we do during the weeks leading up to those first games out from the training pitch,” Stones told England’s official channel.
“The weather’s been a bit strange. We’ve settled in well and it’s good to be here. The manager’s set out from the start to have incredible players and incredible people as well, to have that bond.”
New Zealand beat New Caledonia in March 2025 to go a 28th match unbeaten in Oceanian qualifying and reach the World Cup for a third time, after 1982 and 2010.
Ranked 75th in the world, they were beaten 4-0 by 81st-placed Haiti in Miami on Wednesday in a performance described by head coach Darren Bazeley as lacking “effectiveness and ruthlessness”.
“We’ve defended very well for a number of games in the last few years and haven’t conceded four goals, haven’t conceded goals like that,” reflected Bazeley, whose side had been in Florida for a week and will take on Iran in their first match of the World Cup on June 16 (02:00).
“It’s a real harsh lesson, especially with England and then the World Cup games coming up. We worked hard but we lacked quality in moments.”
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England v New Zealand team news
Right-back Ben White was recalled by England in March but will miss the finals with a serious knee injury.
Centre-back Stones’ fitness is in doubt after missing much of his final season at Manchester City with issues, including a calf injury that kept the 32-year-old out until mid-April.
Midfielder Declan Rice and forwards Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke could be rested after taking part in Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last Saturday.
Training squad members Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King, Jason Steele and Ethan Nwaneri are not eligible to play at the World Cup but could make their England debuts in the warm-up matches.
Record 45-goal New Zealand scorer Chris Wood returned from a severe knee injury for Nottingham Forest in April and played for 60 minutes against Haiti.
Influential right-back Tim Payne missed two months of the season with a broken collarbone and has had two minor hamstring issues since then.
Sarpreet Singh suffered a significant knee injury in February but has been deemed fit enough to join the squad, playing the first half against Haiti.
England v New Zealand predicted line-ups
England starting XI: James Trafford, Reece James, John Stones, Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento, Alex Scott, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins
New Zealand starting XI: Max Crocombe, Tim Payne, Tommy Smith, Nando Pijnaker, Finn Surman, Ben Waine, Matthew Garbett, Callum McCowatt, Lachlan Bayliss, Sarpreet Singh, Chris Wood
Where to watch England v New Zealand: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Saturday is at 21:00 BST (16:00 ET / 13:00 PT). Live coverage in the UK is on ITV1 and STV.
Fans can stream the action via ITV’s website and the ITVX app, which is available on a vast variety of devices for viewing on the go.
England v New Zealand stats
- England have failed to win their last two fixtures (D1 L1), last going winless in their opening three fixtures of a calendar year in 2004 (D2 L1)
- They have won each of their last 37 games against nations ranked 85th or lower in the rankings since a 1-0 loss in Northern Ireland in September 2005
- This will be England’s first game in the US since friendlies against Ecuador and Honduras in June 2014 before the World Cup in Brazil, drawing both fixtures at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium
- The Three Lions’ only previous meetings with New Zealand came in the same week back in June 1991, winning 1-0 in Auckland and 2-0 in Wellington
- Harry Kane has 10 goals across his last 10 appearances for England and has nine nine appearances against non-European nations
- Defeat to Haiti was New Zealand’s eighth in their last 10 games in all competitions (W1 D1)
- The All Whites had 14 shots to 13 in that match, though they posted an expected goals total of 1.0 to their opponents’ 2.4
- Chris Wood scored nine goals for New Zealand in 2026 World Cup qualification, which is five more than any other player in the OFC confederation
- Forest’s 2024/25 leading marksman scored more goals with his head (6) than any other player managed during the confederation campaign overall
- New Zealand are winless in each of their last 16 matches against European opposition (D4 L12), since a 1-0 friendly victory over Serbia in Klagenfurt in May 2010
England v New Zealand prediction
England 3-0 New Zealand
New Zealand’s recent form and performance against Haiti makes it difficult to back the minnows to trouble opponents who are considered among the contenders for the title.
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