England’s national football team has established their World Cup base in Kansas City as they prepare for the tournament’s opening match next week. The squad arrived in the city on June 13, settling into a 12-day training camp following their initial warm-up sessions in Florida. Under the guidance of manager Thomas Tuchel, the 26-man squad has been working to build momentum ahead of their Group L opener against Croatia on June 21 in Dallas.

The team held their first training session at Swope Soccer Village, located in Kansas City, Missouri. Despite the facilities being adequate, they are not considered world-class. Prior to the squad’s arrival, the Football Association (FA) increased security measures around the training ground after an incident in which equipment was stolen from a van on the night of June 12. The theft was described as an embarrassing setback for the team’s preparations, given the open nature of the venue.

England’s stay in Kansas City is part of a strategic effort to minimize travel disruptions during the expanded 48-team World Cup in the United States. The city’s central location allows the squad easy access to multiple match venues: a short 90-minute flight to Dallas for their first game, a three-hour flight to Boston for their second group match against Ghana, and a subsequent three-hour flight to New Jersey for their final group game.

Kansas City, with a population exceeding 520,000, identifies itself as the “Soccer City of America.” While the label is debated, the city has a strong sporting culture and is home to Sporting Kansas City, a Major League Soccer (MLS) founding member. It also hosts Arrowhead Stadium, the venue for six World Cup matches, including a quarter-final. Other teams based in Kansas City for the tournament include reigning champions Argentina, the Netherlands, and Algeria.

The city’s wider sports heritage is notable, with successful franchises such as the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, who have won four Super Bowls, and the Kansas City Royals, two-time World Series champions. Kansas City is also known for its barbecue tradition and its history as a jazz capital, as well as more than 200 fountains that contribute to the city’s unique character.

England’s players are staying at The Inn at Meadowbrook in Prairie Village, Kansas, which offers “English cottage-style” accommodations. The city itself straddles two states, Missouri and Kansas, with the training facilities situated on the Missouri side.

While England did not secure training rights at the preferred venue chosen by Argentina, who are playing their opening match nearby, Tuchel’s squad will benefit from the logistical ease provided by Kansas City. The team will continue training locally until their departure to Dallas on June 20, aiming to make a strong start in the tournament before focusing on the challenges that lie ahead.