England’s World Cup Preparations: Training in Kansas City

omidbasir- Ahead of the upcoming tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, England has selected Kansas City as its base of operations. This decision aligns with that of the defending champions, Argentina, who will also be using the city as their training hub. Although England will not compete in any group stage matches in Kansas City, they chose this location for its central accessibility.

England’s schedule includes a match against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, followed by games against Ghana in Boston on June 23, and Panama in New York on June 27. Argentina plans to utilize the facilities of Sporting Kansas City, while England will train at the complex designated for Sporting Kansas City II.

In preparation for the tournament, England will also play two friendlies in South Florida, facing New Zealand and Costa Rica. A statement confirmed that England will compete against New Zealand on Saturday, June 6, and Costa Rica on Wednesday, June 10, with venues for these matches to be announced at a later date.

Kansas City has been identified as the preferred venue for England’s training, following a comprehensive evaluation process conducted since January 2025. Swope Soccer Village, located in the heart of Kansas City’s historic Swope Park, will serve as the training base for the Three Lions. This facility has previously hosted various national and club teams since its inauguration in 2007.

With a trophy drought spanning 60 years, England aims to reclaim glory under the direction of manager Thomas Tuchel, who has expressed a clear ambition to win the tournament in America. He stated in December, “We are better than before. We need to aim high and create something special, although we cannot guarantee success. Everyone wants to see a team with spirit and determination. If our players embody that, anything is possible.”

Tuchel is also contemplating strategies to cope with the intense heat in America, suggesting that substitutes may need to remain in the dressing room to stay fresh for later in the match. “While I prefer players to energize from the bench, I recognize the importance of managing their physical condition during extreme weather, as seen in previous tournaments.”

Furthermore, Tuchel has stressed the importance of treating all group-stage opponents with respect. He remarked, “We face Croatia and Ghana—both seasoned World Cup participants—and Panama. While I’m not yet familiar with Panama, we will thoroughly prepare for them by the tournament start. Each group is challenging, and no team should be underestimated. Croatia stands out as a highly-ranked team, and Ghana always brings talent and history in World Cup play. Panama will also seek to leverage their underdog status. We must show the utmost respect to every opponent.”

In addition to their Kansas City training, England will play two preparatory friendlies in March against Uruguay and Japan, both scheduled to take place at Wembley.