England's squad arrived at Swope Soccer Village, their World Cup training base in Kansas City, to find locals and police out in force. The nine-pitch facility is sprawling, but security is tight with armed police at the entrance. A steward noted, 'You guys see spying. We see personal security.'
Concerns about the base being too open, sparked by the Southampton spygate scandal, have been allayed. Manager Thomas Tuchel had discussed erecting protective fences, but the presence of armed officers has reassured the team. The theft of some kit in transit from Florida, including boots and footballs, was resolved quickly with two men charged. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson said, 'My boots? I’ve got them on my feet so it’s all good.'
England trained under blue skies and a blazing sun at 29C, with a light session lasting about an hour. The team is staying at the four-star, 54-room Inn at Meadowbrook, a 20-minute drive away. The FA chose Kansas City for its central location to minimise travel distances to matches.
England were denied the first two picks of training bases as they are not playing group games in Kansas City. Argentina chose Sporting Kansas City's performance centre, and the Netherlands opted for the KC Current's training ground. However, Swope, home to Sporting KC's second team and academy, met Tuchel's requirements. The grass pitches are among the best in the state, comparable to those used by Argentina and the Netherlands.
The FA has installed a new gym and lounge at Swope. At the hotel, permanent residents will have restricted access to areas like the main restaurant during England's stay, and the players will hold a meet-and-greet as a thank you. The training session was open to local children, who cheered for Harry Kane. The team received a rapturous welcome, with a police escort from the airport, music from the Kansas City Chiefs' band, and appearances by cheerleaders and mascot KC Wolf.
