England have faced Costa Rica on two previous occasions, drawing 0-0 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup before beating Los Ticos 2-0 in a friendly in June 2018 courtesy of goals from Marcus Rashford and Danny Welbeck.
England are unbeaten across their last 16 internationals against CONCACAF nations (W12 D4), conceding just four goals in that time since losing 2-0 to USA in June 1993.
Since beating Northern Ireland 3-0 in a friendly in June 2018, Costa Rica have failed to win any of their last seven matches against UEFA nations (D2 L5), conceding 20 goals in that time, with 11 coming in the two most recent matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup (0-7 v Spain and 2-4 v Germany).
England have won each of their last 11 internationals against sides ranked outside the top 50 in the FIFA Rankings (Costa Rica are 52nd) by an aggregate score of 28-1 since a 0-0 draw with Slovenia in June 2024, last losing to such an opponent earlier the same month (0-1 v Iceland).
Costa Rica are winless in their previous five matches in all competitions (D2 L3), this after being unbeaten in 10 matches beforehand (W5 D5).
England have only lost their last match before a FIFA World Cup tournament once in their 16 previous participations at the finals (W9 D6), a 1-7 defeat to Hungary in a friendly prior to 1954.
Harry Kane has scored 11 goals in his last 11 appearances for England in all competitions. This could be his first international game against Costa Rica; he has scored against 35 different nations for the Three Lions, at least seven more than any other player.
Josimar Alcócer, who assisted Andrey Soto’s goal in Costa Rica’s 3-1 defeat to Colombia last time out, attempted the third-most take-ons in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League this season (155), while only Rafiki Saïd (12) attempted more shots following a take-on than his nine.
