Henderson Encourages England Squad to Embrace Florida Heat Ahead of World Cup 2026

Jordan Henderson has called on England's players to "expose" themselves to the sweltering conditions in Florida as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup 2026. The majority of the squad has already arrived in the United States, with five players, including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, set to join later this week. The team is training in Florida, known as the Sunshine State, to help them acclimatize to the intense heat expected during the tournament. During their first training session in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, temperatures soared to 32°C. Research indicates that nearly a quarter of all World Cup matches may take place in temperatures exceeding 26°C. According to BBC Sport, England manager Thomas Tuchel encouraged players to spend their post-season holidays in the USA to adjust to the heat and time zone changes. Notably, forward Marcus Rashford was among those who took this advice. Henderson, participating in his seventh major tournament, emphasized the importance of acclimatization: "You just build your capacity to these conditions." He acknowledged the varying temperatures across the country but stressed the necessity of this week’s training to adapt and build resilience to the heat.

Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-02

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