The climate in North America has emerged as one of the most discussed topics ahead of this summer's World Cup, and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford insists the Three Lions will be ready to handle the conditions when the tournament begins in June.

Last summer's FIFA Club World Cup offered an early warning of what players can expect — matches were delayed and suspended because of thunderstorms, and punishing heat forced organisers to introduce cooling breaks. Those breaks are now built into the structure of every game at this summer's World Cup, with play pausing at the 22-minute mark of each half.

Busting the warm-weather myth

Conventional wisdom holds that high temperatures favour South American sides, while European teams struggle. Pickford, preparing for his third World Cup on a third different continent, is determined that England will defy that perception.