Thomas Tuchel has said the reported condition of the pitch for England’s friendly against New Zealand will not decide who plays, even as concerns were raised about the surface at Raymond James Stadium. The England head coach said the squad will adapt if needed and that the team’s selection plan remains unchanged ahead of the build-up to the World Cup.
The match comes at the start of England’s pre-World Cup camp in Florida, where Tuchel is using the final warm-up fixtures to manage minutes and keep the squad on a steady training load. England face New Zealand on Saturday before meeting Costa Rica in the second warm-up, with the World Cup due to begin the following day.
Pitch concerns do not change the plan
Reports said the surface in Tampa had been laid only a week ago and was described as a “plug and play” pitch at the home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The field is one of several World Cup venues being used in stadiums that usually have artificial turf but have been relaid with grass for the tournament.
Tuchel said he had seen a photo that caused some concern, but he stressed that any decision would be made once the team arrives. “If there are any issues, we can always react to it,” he said, while adding that he had heard the pitch “will be OK.”
Travelling ground staff from the Football Association were reported to be working with the venue on the surface, which appeared in pictures to be slightly uneven in parts. Tuchel, however, made clear that the state of the field would not alter the selection process, especially with no injury worries in the squad.
England want consistent minutes for the squad
Tuchel said the current plan is to split the New Zealand match evenly so that players get the same workload. He outlined a format of 45 minutes with two full teams, followed by the next three days of training at the same level.
That approach is designed to keep the squad balanced as the tournament nears and to avoid unnecessary changes unless the pitch forces a response. Tuchel said the staff are “sticking to it” for now, showing confidence in the wider preparation rather than making late adjustments based on reports alone.
Training group boosted by extra players
England trained with 27 players on Friday in Florida, though several Arsenal players were absent after being involved in the Champions League final on 30 May. Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were all missing from that session.
To help with numbers, Tuchel has also brought in Premier League players Josh King, Rio Ngumoha, Ethan Nwaneri, Alex Scott and Jason Steele. Dean Henderson trained as well after joining the squad following Crystal Palace’s victory in the Conference League final.
The wider camp reflects England’s focus on staying flexible without losing rhythm, with Tuchel using the New Zealand friendly and the Costa Rica match as controlled steps toward the tournament. For England, the pitch discussion is only one part of the build-up, while the larger priority remains managing the squad’s fitness, minutes and readiness before the World Cup begins.
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