The match was due to kick off at 9pm UK time

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England’s final pre-World Cup friendly against Costa Rica has been delayed after a heavy thunderstorm hit Orlando.

A thunderstorm descended at around 1pm local time and battered the Florida city relentlessly, with torrential rain and lightning filling the skies.

Thomas Tuchel’s side were due to face the Central American outfit at 4pm eastern time (9pm BST) but the pitch at the Inter&Co Stadium was heavily waterlogged an hour-and-a-half before the start.

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Although the pitch drained quickly, kick-off was still put back by one hour as rain and inclement weather remained in the area.

There will be another delay of 30 minutes if there is a lightning strike within an eight-mile radius of the stadium, though the weather had appeared to clear by 3.30pm local time (8.30pm BST).

A Football Association statement read: “Following a pitch inspection at the stadium, today’s match against Costa Rica will now kick off at 5pm ET (10pm UK time) – subject to there being no further lightning strikes in the area.”

England fans in the area took shelter where they could, including some going inside a local library, while others had to risk the elements.

Jude Bellingham was named in Tuchel’s starting XI for the game in the No.10 position as he gets a chance to stake his place for a shirt in next week’s opener against Croatia.

Harry Kane again led the line with Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke supporting him, while Declan Rice started alongside Elliot Anderson in midfield.

Bricks, wheelie bins and traffic cones are being launched towards police to the north of Belfast by masked rioters.

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For the latest on this developing story follow our live blog here.

Bricks, wheelie bins and traffic cones are being launched towards police to the north of Belfast by masked rioters.

Footage showed rioters wearing face coverings and all-black outfits, advancing towards police on Antrim Road in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, and attempting to hit officers with bricks and other projectiles.

Some rioters could be seen kicking police vehicles although the demonstrators retreated after a water cannon was deployed by riot police.

Police have deployed water cannons on protesters in Co Antrim after they were pelted with bricks in the latest disorder following the Belfast knife attack.

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A large vehicle was in flames as demonstrators confronted the police after they gathered near the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey to the north of Belfast.

Footage showed dozens of men dressed all in black and wearing face coverings gathering on Antrim Road and throwing objects at a line of eight police vehicles.

Videos shared on social media showed protesters attempting to march to the Chimney Corner Hotel, with riot police and several vans being deployed to manage the demonstrations.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers deployed water cannons to maintain public order after missiles were thrown at police.

In Derry, police reported items having been set alight on the Ardmore Road.

Additional police officers are on the streets in the region following significant unrest on Tuesday night following the brutal attack on Monday.

Public transport was suspended and some schools closed early on Wednesday with fears of a second night of violence.

Earlier, Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in court charged with attempted murder over Monday’s knife attack in which victim Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye.

Mr Ogilvie, who is aged in his 40s, remains in a serious condition in hospital in Belfast. It is understood he is in an induced coma.

The reaction to the incident saw mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire on Tuesday, with people targeted based on their race.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed to “crack down on anyone who is fuelling this division”.

Alodid appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning charged with the attempted murder of Mr Ogilvie, with threats to kill an NHS radiographer and with possession of a knife.

The court heard Mr Ogilvie lost his left eye and suffered deep cuts to his head, face and back.

District Judge Stephen Keown refused bail after hearing police concerns there could be “significant public disorder” if he was released due to “strong public feeling” about the incident.

The judge warned that anyone who plans to take part in further disorder in Northern Ireland should “be prepared to go to prison”.

In Westminster, security minister Dan Jarvis said: “Reports that ethnic minorities were targeted are sickening.”

The Prime Minister said the rioting in Belfast was “shocking and completely unacceptable”.

“It is clear that people were targeted last night because of their background and I will not tolerate it,” he said.

“Those responsible will feel the full force of the law.”

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said 200 more officers would be on the streets on Wednesday night.

“We will deal with this,” he said.

“We will be on the streets tonight in numbers even more than we were last night, and we have got arrangements in hand to get mutual aid that will be arriving here tomorrow.”

The force said that following the recent disorder, “some social media users are posting address details online”.

“We have received phone calls from a number of families, house owners, neighbours and members of the wider community who are extremely distressed as a result of this reckless activity,” a spokesperson for the PSNI said.

“This is unacceptable. It is putting lives at risk and has to stop.

“Anyone who shares personal information online with the intention to endanger others may be committing a criminal offence.”

Mr Jarvis told MPs there had been three arrests “but more will surely follow”.

Mr Ogilvie’s family said in a statement they were “devastated by the horrific attack” but pleaded for calm.

“We are aware of the tensions and talk of protests following this incident,” the statement said.

“We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward.

“We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector and we depend on them to make our country work.

“We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.”

For the latest on this developing story follow our live blog here.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

The Three Lions will be deliberating over how quickly to get ready for the warm-up this evening, with the wait for a kick-off time ongoing. Jude Bellingham will certainly want to put in a good impression this evening, and the circumstances ensure that all of the squad have another test to pass in Thomas Tuchel’s eyes.

It might not be the last time the squad are presented with a delay.

A reminder of the England team this evening:

England XI: Pickford, Konsa, O’Reilly, Rice, Stones, Anderson, Kane, Bellingham, Gordon, Madueke, James.

Subs: Guehi, Saka, Rashford, Livramento, D Henderson, J Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Watkins, Eze, Toney, Trafford, Spence, Quansah.

This morning, a package containing a device was discovered at Zakariyya Jaame Masjid on Derby Street.

The Bolton Council of Mosques (BCoM) said police were investigating the incident and urged people not to speculate while enquiries were ongoing.

In a statement, the organisation said there was “no cause for alarm” while urging members of the public to remain vigilant.

Rumworth councillor Ayyub Patel described Zakariyya Mosque as a longstanding focal point for faith and community life in the area.

He said: “I want to thank Greater Manchester Police (GMP) for their swift and professional response.

“Their ongoing enquiries are being conducted with the utmost care and diligence.  

“Our community stands together in calm and solidarity.

“We urge everyone to remain vigilant, cooperate fully with the authorities and avoid speculation while investigations continue.

“Rumworth’s strength lies in its resilience and shared commitment to peace and safety.”

Cllr Akhtar Zaman (Image: Bolton Council)

Bolton Council leader Akhtar Zaman also sought to reassure residents.

He said: “I would like to reassure the community that the local authority and GMP have always worked together to combat any threats to our communities.

“I am sure that GMP are doing everything they can to investigate this issue and I’d like to reassure people there is no immediate threat.

“People should not be worried about this.”

Further enquiries made by The Bolton News have clarified the circumstances surrounding the item, and there is no indication of any risk to the public.

It is understood that it was a USB battery pack which had been discovered.

Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park will be transformed for 11 days to allow families and fans to gather to watch the Games on giant screens, while getting the chance to try a diverse range of physical activities – inspired by the Summer of Sport.

Lanarkshire sports enthusiasts can enjoy free activities, sport and live screenings of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games events at the Game On Live Site this summer.

Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park will be transformed for 11 days to allow families and fans to gather to watch the Games on giant screens, while getting the chance to try a diverse range of physical activities – inspired by the Summer of Sport.

The Game On Live Site, which is backed by £1 million from Scottish Government’s Summer of Sport programme and supported by funding from Commonwealth Sport, will be open from July 23 to August 2, with over 12 hours of daily coverage of the Games shown on three large screens.

Sport Minister Maree Todd said: “It’s ‘Game On’ for Glasgow and Scotland. This Live Site will help showcase the very best the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games has to offer, while bringing families of all backgrounds together to get active and stay active.

“We want the legacy of the Summer of Sport – the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Glasgow 2026 and the women’s hockey and cricket team world cup campaigns – to stretch far beyond the next few months.

“As part of our wider £40 million additional funding for the 2026-27 sport budget, our £20 million Summer of Sport funding can be truly transformational and will offer sporting opportunities across the length and breadth of Scotland.

“This is about ensuring that every child who attends a session still has the option to stay active in a year’s time and throughout their life.

“If we get it right, the impact will be felt long after this summer and will help to improve health and wellbeing, tackle inequality, strengthen communities and make sport accessible to all.”

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices, saying Wednesday “if we are doing something wrong, everyone in North America is doing something wrong.”

FIFA priced tickets starting at $140 for the 48-nation, 104-game tournament that starts Thursday and priced regular seats up to $8,680 for the July 19 final in New Jersey. It raised prices for the final to $10,990 and then $32,970. After criticism, FIFA offered a small amount of $60 tickets to national federations for their regular supporters. He said Wednesday 130,000 tickets were offered at that price, out of 6 to 7 million total.

Infantino said the average ticket price was under $500 for the tournament and was comparable to other U.S. sports during their playoffs, a claim that while true for resale prices does not appear to be accurate for list prices. He said he was unconcerned about investigations by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

“We are very relaxed about it because before starting to sell 6.5 million or 7 million tickets we check what we do with the best lawyers,” he said. “We welcome every investigation.”

The NBA Finals have had wildly varied get-in prices, ranging from a minimum of about $500 for the first two games in San Antonio to about $10,000 for Game 3 in New York. Game 4 in New York was much less, dropping to about $4,000 on Wednesday

The Stanley Cup Final this year between teams in Las Vegas and Raleigh, North Carolina, has included a get-in price of at least $600 for each of the first four games of the best-of-seven series.

Infantino says FIFA is powerless to get US entry for denied Somali referee

Infantino said it was “unfortunate” that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the U.S. and said people “should chill.”

He said FIFA cannot dictate to governments who to let into their countries, though it is working “behind the scenes.”

“We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions,” he said. “Sometimes we manage, other times not.”

“We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” he said.

He thinks FIFA deserves credit for ensuring Iran’s participation

Infantino praised FIFA for working through details that allow Iran to play in the tournament at a time the U.S. is at war with Iran. The Iranian team moved its training camp from the U.S. to Mexico and will fly to the U.S. before matches.

“I don’t know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances … Iran could come and play,” Infantino said.

Infantino claimed the tournament will be “the biggest event probably in the history of mankind.”

This press conference went smoother than Infantino’s opening comments in Qatar

Four years ago, Infantino scolded critics during a news conference ahead of the opener in Qatar. He lectured Europeans for criticizing Qatar’s human rights record during a bizarre availability in which he claimed to feel gay, like a woman and a migrant worker, among other bizarre claims.

Now 50, Infantino has been FIFA’s president since 2010 and intends to seek another term next year that runs through 2031.

Infantino kept an empty seat at the news conference for Christophe Gleizes, a French freelance reporter given a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria last year over an interview with a soccer official accused of ties to a banned separatist movement.

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AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed.

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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

The victim, who suffered multiple facial injuries and nerve damage, said her confidence has been shattered and her world has ‘become small’

A drunk rugby player repeatedly punched a woman in her fifties in the face as she sat in her car, a court has heard. Ben Jenkins reached through the open window of the vehicle to deliver a series of blows to his victim after she asked him to get out of the road.

The woman suffered multiple facial fractures and nerve damage in the attack. A judge said to describe what 28-year-old Jenkins did on the night in question as “disgraceful” would be to understate the seriousness of the incident.

The judge also said the defendant “did not have the guts” to admit his wrongdoing and tired to “brazen it out” at trial. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

Swansea Crown Court heard that the incident took place on Guy Fawkes Night 2023 in the street outside the Nos Da bar on Victoria Road in Milford Haven.

When Jenkins – who had been “drinking heavily” – was asked by the victim to get out of the way so she could drive past he approached the driver-side door and repeatedly punched the woman in the face through the window. Georgia Donohue, prosecuting, told the court the victim was “unable to escape”.

The court heard that while the fractures have healed the victim continues to suffer facial swelling, has “mild facial asymmetry” which is likely to be permanent, and has “mild pain due to nerve damage” which again is likely to be permanent.

In an impact statement read to the court, the victim described the profound physical and psychological consequences of the assault. The woman said her confidence had been shattered and that her “world has become small”.

The court heard the Crown Prosecution Service originally decided not to charge Jenkins but the victim successfully appealed against that decision.

Ben Jenkins, of St Lawrence Avenue, Hakin, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, had previously been convicted at trial of inflicting grievous bodily harm when he returned to the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions.

John Hipkin KC, for Jenkins, said the defendant was of previous positive good character, and is due to become a father in August. He said his client wants to put the “sad and tragic incident” behind him, and said in his submission Jenkins “is not a defendant the courts are likely to see again”.

The barrister said his client lost his previous employment as a result of his conviction but had secured a new job and was in a position to pay compensation to his victim.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said to call what the defendant did “disgraceful” would be to understate the seriousness of it. He told Jenkins: “You viciously attacked a woman in her 50s by punching her repeatedly in the face through her car window. You did so simply because she asked you, in your drunken state, to get out of the way of her car. You had been drinking heavily. I repeat – you, a rugby player, punched a woman in her late fifties repeatedly in the face”.

The judge said the defendant then “did not have the guts” to admit what he had done but instead chose to “brazen it out” at trial where a jury saw through his “lies”. He noted that Jenkins had written a letter in which he expressed his remorse for what he had done, and he said to the man in dock: “What a shame, Mr Jenkins, you were not man enough to do that two years ago”.

The judge said given the length of sentence Jenkins was facing the court was obliged to consider whether it could be suspended – he told the defendant that “By the skin of you teeth” he would avoid immediate custody.

Jenkins was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years, and must complete a 90-day alcohol abstinence requirement and do 250 hours of unpaid work in the community. The defendant was ordered to pay his vicitm £3,000 in compensation, and was made subject to a three-year restraining order banning him from contacting her.

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“In this case, the Met did not present its procurement strategy for approval, as required, and the process followed by the Met did not adequately demonstrate value for money for Londoners for a proposed contract at this value. Given the tight budgetary constraints the police are operating under, it’s even more important that robust processes are followed when awarding large contracts.

‘I don’t think any of us will ever be able to forget the image of a nine-year-old child and their family being put in the back of a Land Rover to be rescued from violent, racist thugs’

Twenty-seven people have been made homeless “because people went door-to-door to try and target foreign nationals”, a UK minister has said.

Cabinet Office minister Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent told the Lords: “I think we need to remember what has actually happened and contextualise what’s happened in the last 24 hours, and what it’s actually led to.

“Twenty-seven people were made homeless last night because people went door-to-door to try and target foreign nationals to burn them out of their homes.

“I can only imagine the terror.

“A two-month-old is the youngest victim who had to be moved from her home and I don’t think any of us will ever be able to forget the image of a nine-year-old child and their family being put in the back of a Land Rover to be rescued from violent, racist thugs who were seeking to undermine them and to undermine their very sense of belonging in a country that many of them have lived in for decades.

“This is simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Lady Anderson was responding to Labour peer Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, the former SDLP MP for South Down.

Lady Ritchie said disorder in Belfast on Tuesday “seemed to concentrate on a pogrom of people of colour”.

Meanwhile, a school principal has hit out after pupils were forced to miss classes after being left homeless following a night of disorder in Belfast.

Terry Rodgers, principal at St Theresa’s Primary School on the Glen Road in West Belfast, detailed how a number of his pupils were forced to miss lessons today after they were burnt out of their homes last night or their families are too frightened to send them to school.

In a letter to parents, Mr Rodgers shared his sympathies with the victim of Monday’s stabbing incident and said that some of his pupils have been “left with horrific memories.”

Mr Rodgers said that “there can be no equivication nor justification for these actions.”

“As school leaders in West Belfast, we feel compelled to raise our voice. The terrible stabbing incident that occurred in North Belfast earlier this week was shocking and the thoughts and prayers of everyone in our school communities are with the victim and his family and friends at this time. No one deserves to suffer such an appalling attack, and like all right minded people we expect justice to take its course through the appropriate legal processes,” he said.

“Today, many of our classrooms have children missing. Some of the children were forcibly evicted from their homes last night by angry mobs and are spending today trying to find alternative accommodation, left with horrific memories that will last a very long time.

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