England are starting their World Cup campaign at a plush hotel co-owned by Donald Trump's special envoy and close friend – who was playing golf with the president at the time of an assassination attempt.
Thomas Tuchel and the Three Lions at Belgrove Resort
Thomas Tuchel and his Three Lions are settling in at the high-end Belgrove Resort in West Palm Beach, Florida, as they attempt to acclimatise ahead of the tournament. The swanky $100million (£74m) resort is part of Marriott's exclusive Autograph Collection – and is owned by a partnership between The Witkoff Group – founded by long-time Trump ally Steve Witkoff – and Access Real Estate, owned by DAZN supremo Sir Leonard Blavatnik.
Steve Witkoff's Connection to Trump
Witkoff, a New York real estate billionaire, and Trump have known each other for more than 40 years following a chance 3am meeting in a deli when the president had no cash on him. 'I ordered him a ham and swiss,' Witkoff said, according to a report in Courthouse News. The Belgrove boasts three pools, a spa and a stunning golf course Dutchman's Pipe, along with 'Caribbean-inspired grounds'. Dutchman's Pipe measures in at 7,300 yards and was renovated by Nicklaus Design.
It is viewed as more spacious than many of the other courses in the area, which may well go down well with the golfers in England's squad, which include Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford. The resort also features four tennis courts, two pickleball courts and two padel courts. There is also a sound-therapy relaxation room and a shuttle service direct to the beach.
Accommodation and Costs
It is entirely booked out but room rates next month start at $265 (£197) per night. Suites cost from $959 (£714). A recent review in Residence magazine called the golf club's membership 'more than just access - it’s a gateway to an elevated way of life, with benefits that span fine dining, sport, wellness, and culture, all set just ten minutes from the heart of Palm Beach.'
England's World Cup Schedule
England will spend 12 days in the Sunshine State before heading to their tournament headquarters in Kansas City. On June 6 they will play New Zealand in Tampa, before heading facing Costa Rica in Orlando on June 10. Their World Cup bow is against Croatia in Dallas on June 17.
Witkoff's Role in Diplomacy and Personal History
Witkoff was chosen by the President as special envoy to the Middle East and is currently in the thick of negotiations with Iranian officials around a peace deal. He has also served as a de facto envoy to Russian president Vladimir Putin and was a key player in Gaza ceasefire talks. In September 2024, avid golfer Witkoff was at Trump's side amid dramatic scenes at the President's Trump International course, which is also in West Palm Beach. He told NBC News that he knew immediately that a series of loud 'pops' was gunfire, and hailed the work of secret service agents who managed to take Trump out of the area within 20 seconds.
Ryan Routh, a 60-year-old former roofer, was jailed for life earlier this year. He had waited in bushes at the venue with a rifle and fled after being spotted and coming under fire. 'The entire team converged on top of him, except for the snipers,' Witkoff said. 'The snipers separated, and they came within three yards of me, put the tripods down, and they were aiming right at the spot where the shots had come from,' he added. Routh was later captured.
Witkoff has also spoken of how Trump was there for him in 2011 when one of his sons died from an opioid overdose. 'I have seen his humanity in the quiet moments away from the spotlight in hospital rooms he didn't have to be in,' he said, 'where his presence brought real solace in a dark hour for my family'. Witkoff testified as a character witness at Trump's 2024 trial on business fraud charges. According to the New York Times, Witkoff helped broker Qatar's offer to donate a spare 747 to the president following his inauguration. In 2021 ProPublica reported that the Bronx-born businessman had donated more than $2m to Trump's political action groups.
