International
2026-06-06 - England vs New Zealand
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: International Friendly
Saturday 6th June 2026 - Kick Off 9pm
Preview
Both of these teams will be playing at the upcoming World Cup Finals and England and New Zealand have arrived in the United States to play this international friendly in Tampa Bay.
There is going to be a lot of pressure on Thomas Tuchel and his England players to perform at a level to keep up with the raised expectations back home. Big decisions have been made by the manager in his first big tournament in charge of England and a number of key names have been left behind with Tuchel focusing on those who have impressed him in past international get-togethers.
Form of those selected has also been important, but England expects and Thomas Tuchel will be judged on how the team performs, even if he has had his contract extended with the Football Association.
Players who have been in action in the two European Finals played after the conclusion of the Premier League have yet to be included, while the squad is likely going to be utilised throughout this and the last international friendly before the World Cup Finals begin. Reports suggest the likes of Alex Scott will be involved in this fixture on Saturday, even though he is not part of the squad that will be competing in North America when the competitive football begins, but England will be looking for a couple of positive results all the same.
England have only won 1 of the last 5 friendly games played, while they were beaten by Japan in March in what is the last fixture they competed in at home before the World Cup.
They are still big favourites to beat a New Zealand team who have made it through the weak OFC World Cup Qualifiers and returned to the big stage in the expanded World Cup field.
The All Whites were beaten 4-0 by Haiti in Miami last week and New Zealand have lost the last 3 friendly games since drawing with a much-changed Norway team. Having the likes of Chris Wood available to lead the line with all of his experience will help, but New Zealand face a big step up when they play at this level and the defeat to Haiti is a real concern.
Playing England will give New Zealand plenty of motivation, but this could be another outing in which they are worn down in the heat. It is something that could really show up once New Zealand make the wholesale changes that both teams should be using throughout the ninety minutes and the favourite may end up recording a relatively comfortable win.
The only time England have faced New Zealand came all the way back in 1991 when playing a couple of matches in Auckland and Wellington and they won both.
Prediction
The whole focus is on the World Cup and so these international friendly games can throw up some strange results as teams make changes throughout to utilise the whole squad.
Spain drawing with Iraq makes it clear what can happen, but England may have too much quality for New Zealand as players look to impress Thomas Tuchel.
New Zealand will be motivated to bounce back from the poor defeat to Haiti, but England could wear them down in the second half with late goals seeing them cover this Asian Handicap mark.
The Pick :
England 3-0 New Zealand
