Nine people have been injured in a shooting near the England squad’s World Cup training ground in Kansas City, Missouri, according to reports in the United States. The incident occurred at around 4 a.m. local time on Saturday on Troost Avenue, approximately five miles from the training base that Thomas Tuchel’s side will use during the tournament.
Details of the Incident
Police were called to the scene after reports of gunfire. Officers arrived to find a large crowd dispersing. Three adult females were initially reported injured and taken to hospital. Later reports confirmed that nine adults had gone to various local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. No suspects are in custody, but police continue to patrol the area.
England Squad Not Present
The England team was not at their hotel during the shooting, as they were in Florida preparing for a friendly match against New Zealand. The squad is not due to arrive at the Kansas City base until after their final warm-up game against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday. The Football Association declined to comment when contacted by the Press Association.
Other Teams in Kansas City
Argentina and the Netherlands are also scheduled to be based in Kansas City during the World Cup tournament.
England's Preparations
England have been training in Florida for a week. They beat New Zealand 1-0 in Tampa on Saturday in their first warm-up friendly, with Harry Kane scoring the only goal. Head coach Thomas Tuchel expressed displeasure with the team's “freestyle” approach in the first half, though performance improved after the break. The next match is against Costa Rica at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, which will include four late-arriving Arsenal players. The squad will then fly to Kansas City on June 13.
