The excitement builds as the World Cup approaches, with England gearing up for a friendly against Costa Rica. This clash occurs just a week before their opening match in Group L against Croatia on June 17.
In the meantime, FIFA has revealed the top 20 oldest players set to feature in the tournament. Surprisingly, despite his legendary status, Lionel Messi is not among the top ten. Leading the pack is Scotland’s Craig Gordon, who is 43 years and 162 days old, followed closely by Cristiano Ronaldo at 41 years and 126 days.
The list, accurate as of June 11, 2026, also includes notable veterans such as Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa and Croatia’s Luka Modric, both aged 40. Roger Milla held the record for the oldest player at a World Cup when he played at 42 in 1994, but Egypt’s Essam El Hadary currently holds the overall record at 45 years and 161 days during the 2018 World Cup.
As for Messi, who will turn 39 during this tournament, there is speculation about whether he might still shine on the world stage, despite his recent performances. Jonathan Wilson suggests there could be another memorable chapter in his illustrious career.
In more health-related news, Denmark’s Christian Eriksen is recovering positively after collapsing during a friendly against Ukraine. National team doctor Morten Boesen shared an update via Instagram, confirming Eriksen is in good spirits and expected to return home soon.
“I spoke with Christian this morning, and he is doing well. He is with his family and in good spirits. The expectation is that he will be discharged soon and can return home,” Boesen stated.
Meanwhile, in the England camp, Declan Rice has been appointed vice-captain by manager Thomas Tuchel. After a brief recovery period following their Champions League commitments, the Arsenal players, including Rice, have joined the team in West Palm Beach. Tuchel remains uncertain about the availability of Rice and several teammates for the upcoming match against Costa Rica.
Harry Kane, the team captain, has addressed concerns regarding players coping with the heat during the tournament, emphasizing that the scheduled drinks breaks will help manage the conditions. Kane noted, “I think it’s easy just to say it’s going to be really tough as it’s different to what we are used to. But we are all athletes, we are professionals and have all played in warm-weather conditions before.”
Preparations and Expectations for England
In Tampa, reports indicate that key players such as Jordan Pickford, Reece James, and Bukayo Saka are likely to feature prominently against Costa Rica. The decision on whether Jude Bellingham will play instead of Morgan Rogers remains to be seen.
Shifting focus to Argentina, the defending champions are not solely reliant on Messi this time around. Their squad includes promising talents like Nico Paz, who has impressed at Como, as well as established stars like Lautaro Martínez, who is eager to perform better than he did in Qatar.
In a recent friendly, Martínez scored the decisive penalty as Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Honduras. Messi, however, was absent as a precaution due to hamstring fatigue.
Challenges for Iran Amid Visa Issues
Meanwhile, Iran’s national team has arrived in Mexico, facing a diplomatic challenge as some support staff were denied visas by the United States. After nearly three weeks of training in Turkey, the players finally received their US visas just before their departure.
However, reports indicate that 15 support staff members, including the head of Iran’s football federation, were left without visas. This has been described as “political interference in sport” by Iranian officials, raising concerns as all their group stage matches will take place in the US.
Upcoming Matches and Final Preparations
The World Cup is set to kick off this Thursday with Mexico facing South Africa. As anticipation grows, the countdown clock shows just over three days until the first of 104 matches commences, spanning 39 days of thrilling football.
As England readies for its friendly against Costa Rica, the team reflects on their recent 1-0 win over New Zealand while preparing for a summer full of action in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
