England's World Cup squad, led by captain Harry Kane, departed from Birmingham Airport on Tuesday aboard a chartered Virgin flight bound for Florida. The team, wearing official Three Lions tracksuits, boarded one by one without the traditional photocall on the steps, as manager Thomas Tuchel opted for a low-key departure.
The 20 players on the flight are part of the 26-man squad aiming to end England's 60-year wait for a World Cup title since Bobby Moore lifted the trophy in 1966. They will spend 12 days acclimatising in Florida before moving to their base camp in Kansas City.
Tuchel has sent some players ahead, including Marcus Rashford, who is already in Miami training at Inter Miami's facilities. The manager has sought advice from British Olympic athletes to prepare the squad for the heat and humidity, with temperatures reaching 35°C in Florida and potentially 40°C during warm-up matches.
The team will play pre-tournament friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica. Tuchel plans to build team spirit at the 54-room hotel in Kansas City, which will feature a giant TV screen for watching rivals, as well as gaming consoles and activities like murder mystery games.
Players such as Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, and Declan Rice are expected to join later in the week. England's group stage matches are expected to attract 12,000 to 15,000 fans each, with the team among bookmakers' favourites to win the tournament.
