Jordan Henderson on England's Adaptation to Heat Ahead of World Cup

Jordan Henderson insists England will grow into the heat of the United States as the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup tightens.

The Brentford midfielder started in Tampa, where the air felt heavy and the pitch shimmered under Florida’s sun, as England edged New Zealand 1-0 on Saturday. Harry Kane settled it with a trademark header seconds before the interval, capping a first half in which Thomas Tuchel used the conditions as much as the opposition to test his squad.

Tuchel rolled out two different XIs, one for each half, Henderson anchoring the opening 45 minutes before a full reshuffle at the break. The result mattered, but the thermometer told the real story.

“You just build your capacity to these conditions,” Henderson told the BBC, speaking with the calm of a man who has played in every kind of atmosphere elite football can throw at him.

He knows the challenge goes beyond one sticky evening in Tampa. “I know that depends on where you're playing in the country, it can be different all over so it's hard to really adapt but it's about this week to build that capacity, to get used to the heat a little bit.

“The warm-up games will be good for that as well and to get that exposure just best we can, we've got an amazing team behind the team and how much research they've done and tried to cool down and recovery and all that sort of stuff so that's top, top level.

“Hopefully that can give us a little edge as well when we get into the tournament but it's the same for everyone so we've just got to go and try to just concentrate on the football.”

England now move on to Costa Rica on Wednesday (9pm BST), their final friendly before the serious business begins. The World Cup opener comes against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday 17 June (9pm), where the heat will again be part of the contest, as much an opponent as any midfielder.

Brazil sharpen edge, Scotland cut loose

While England sweated in Tampa, Brazil were grinding out their own World Cup preparations in Cleveland, Ohio.

Igor Thiago led the line as Brazil beat Egypt 2-1, a scoreline that barely captured the churn of a game shaped by early drama and sweeping changes. Bruno Guimarães struck first, only for Mostafa Zico to wipe out that advantage almost immediately.

The break brought a flurry of substitutions from Carlo Ancelotti — eight changes in all, including the introduction of Brentford striker Thiago. The reshuffle paid off quickly. Endrick found the far corner after being picked out by Raphinha, a crisp finish that restored Brazil’s control and underlined the depth of attacking talent at Ancelotti’s disposal.

Brazil will not have to wait long for a sterner test. Their Group C campaign opens against Morocco in New York on Saturday 13 June (11pm BST), a fixture that already feels like a measure of where they truly stand.

Scotland, by contrast, enjoyed a far more straightforward evening in Harrison, New Jersey. Aaron Hickey played just over an hour as Steve Clarke’s side dismantled Bolivia 4-0, a statement win that arrived early and emphatically.

Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay and a Che Adams double all hit the net before half-time, the contest effectively over by the interval. Scotland’s aggression, movement and ruthlessness will encourage Clarke as he looks ahead to their own Group C opener against Haiti in Boston on Sunday 14 June (2am BST).

Ajer goes the distance as Norway hold Morocco

On the same patch of New Jersey turf where Scotland ran riot, Kristoffer Ajer’s Norway were made to work for a 1-1 draw with Morocco.

Brahim Díaz struck early to put Morocco in front, forcing Norway to chase the game. Martin Ødegaard eventually dragged them level in the second half, his equaliser reflecting a more controlled and assertive Norwegian display after the break.

Ajer, deployed in the heart of defence, played 72 minutes in Harrison. It was the kind of outing managers value in these final tune-ups: competitive, demanding, and just long enough to sharpen legs without draining them.

From Tampa to Cleveland to New Jersey, the pattern is clear. The heat is unforgiving, the margins are thin, and the friendlies are almost over. The question now is simple: who will still be standing strongest when the World Cup kicks off for real?