Jordan Henderson has called on England's players to fully immerse themselves in the scorching Florida heat, insisting the experience is vital preparation for the conditions they will face at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Most of Thomas Tuchel's squad have already touched down in the United States ahead of the tournament, which kicks off next week. However, five players — including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka — are expected to link up with the group later in the week.
England have set up their pre-tournament base in Florida, the self-styled Sunshine State, with the specific aim of helping players adapt to the punishing heat. During their first training session in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, temperatures climbed to 32C.
Research indicates that close to a quarter of all World Cup matches could be contested in temperatures exceeding 26C — a figure that underscores why acclimatisation has become such a priority for the England camp.
Tuchel's heat strategy
BBC Sport reported on Sunday that Tuchel had encouraged his players to spend their post-season breaks in the USA, both to adjust to the heat and to manage the shift in time zone. Marcus Rashford was among those who followed that advice, taking his holiday in the States after the domestic season concluded.
Henderson, who will be participating in his seventh major tournament, stressed that building physical tolerance is the squad's primary focus this week.
