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LONDON, June 1 (Reuters) – England manager Thomas Tuchel has said that while heat and humidity will pose major challenges, his team remains confident in their abilities and believes they can make a deep run in the upcoming World Cup.

On Monday evening, many England players were scheduled to fly to Miami for a 10-day warm-weather training camp aimed at helping them acclimatise to the conditions before the tournament begins.

Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze have been given additional time to recover following their Champions League final defeat to Paris St Germain in Budapest on Saturday and will join the squad later.

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who recently helped his club secure the Conference League title, is also expected to report late and will miss the friendly fixture against New Zealand in Tampa this Saturday.

The remaining 21 players, some of whom have been holidaying across the Americas and Caribbean, will convene in West Palm Beach for the camp.

“When I reconnected with the games and began organising our training sessions and meetings to bring the group together again in Florida, I saw tremendous quality,” Tuchel told Sky Sports. “That immediately gave me full confidence and excitement that we can go a long way.”

Tuchel acknowledged that the extreme heat would not be favourable for England, especially following a long and demanding club season. “We are not accustomed to this level of heat and humidity, and even altitude could be a factor if we play in Mexico,” he said. “There will be numerous challenges in this World Cup. The heat is one of them, but we are already prepared.”

He added that the team had developed specific methods to handle the conditions. “We understand how each player reacts to the heat, and we’ve implemented cooling strategies. We have received assistance from Team GB and experts globally to create solutions that help the players adapt effectively.

“We know precisely how long we want to expose them during pre-camp, the ideal training duration under the sun, and how to avoid overexertion,” Tuchel explained.

Concerns about extreme temperatures were also raised during the June–July 2025 Club World Cup in the United States, when medical professionals and players’ unions warned about the risks of heat stress, dehydration, and slower recovery times.

Tuchel stressed that England were not looking for excuses ahead of the World Cup, which will take place across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. “Yes, the heat is a factor,” he said, “but that shouldn’t give the impression that we’re making excuses. It’s simply not in our favour, and it’s a challenge we must overcome.”