Eberechi Eze has spoken candidly about the intense training sessions England are undertaking as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup. Currently at a warm-weather camp in Girona, the squad is focusing not just on their upcoming qualifier against Andorra, but also on the physical demands they will face next summer in the heat of the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The England coaching staff have introduced rigorous heat adaptation methods to gauge how players respond to extreme conditions. One of the main features involves cycling inside a specially heated tent, with players required to maintain a consistent effort for 45 minutes in temperatures of at least 35°C. Using biometric tablets, sports scientists have been monitoring core body temperature and heart rate to assess each player’s response to heat stress.
Eze described the experience as challenging and unlike anything he had done before. “It was quite difficult to do,” he explained. “You had to keep going, and they monitored your heart rate and actual temperature. It was definitely helpful a bit of an insight into yourself and how you will cope in those situations.”
Midfielder Cole Palmer echoed the sentiment, noting how tough it was to maintain specific wattage targets for the full duration in such heat. The demanding regime is seen as essential preparation, particularly as high temperatures could become a key factor at the World Cup finals.
Eze’s inclusion in the national team squad comes off the back of a remarkable end to the domestic season. After scoring his first England goal in a 3-0 win against Latvia in March, he returned to club action and produced an outstanding run of form for Crystal Palace, netting nine goals in the final 13 matches. His most notable contribution came in the FA Cup final, where he scored the winning goal against Manchester City, delivering Palace their first major trophy.
That historic victory also secured the club a place in next season’s Europa League. However, a potential issue looms due to the shared ownership of Palace and Lyon by John Textor. UEFA regulations prohibit an individual from owning significant stakes in two clubs participating in the same European competition. As both Palace and Lyon have qualified for the Europa League, the situation is under scrutiny.
Eze hopes the matter is resolved in a way that honours the team’s hard work. “I really hope that Palace do get the reward because of what it took to actually achieve that,” he said. “It would be a huge shame if that was not the case but I’m trusting that it will work out in the end.”
Reflecting on the team’s triumph and what it meant to the fans, Eze shared how special it was to see the impact of their achievement. “The main thing for me after the FA Cup win was when we were leaving the stadium, on the open-top bus parade, looking at the fans’ faces people in tears, people overwhelmed. That’s something that will live with me forever.”
Elsewhere in the national setup, the Football Association confirmed that Lee Carsley has signed a two-year contract extension to remain in charge of the England Under-21s. Having guided the team to victory at the 2023 European Under-21 Championship, he now turns his attention to leading them into the next edition of the tournament in Slovakia later this month.
