England stars were able to reunite with their wives and girlfriends at the World Cup after manager Thomas Tuchel overturned the initial ban on partners staying at the team hotel. The players' partners were permitted to join them at The Belgrove Resort and Spa in West Palm Beach, Florida, despite earlier reports that only players and staff were allowed entry.
WAGs Visit Luxury Base
Several WAGs made the journey to see their loved ones, including Jude Bellingham's girlfriend Ashlyn Castro, who spent an evening playing cards with him after a four-hour drive. The 28-year-old model and influencer shared stunning photos from the hotel on social media. She met the 22-year-old Real Madrid star online in late 2024, and the couple went public in 2025.
Harry Kane's wife Kate and Kobbie Mainoo's girlfriend Layla Roye also reportedly visited the players. A source said, "It's very unusual for them to spend so much time with the footballers before the World Cup. But Tuchel wants his pre-tournament camp relaxed before heading to Kansas."
Tuchel's Relaxed Approach
After England's 3-0 win over Costa Rica, Tuchel gave players additional time with partners, friends, and family. The team has since moved to Swope Soccer Village in Missouri to prepare for their opening game against Croatia next Wednesday. However, England suffered a theft setback, with players' boots and training gear allegedly stolen in transit.
In previous tournaments, partners were accommodated differently. During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, they stayed on a luxury cruise ship, and former manager Gareth Southgate reportedly barred them from a behind-the-scenes documentary. However, he allowed partners to join players at the stadium after England's 6-2 win over Iran. For Euro 2024, Southgate permitted partners into the training base after each group stage match.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford welcomed Tuchel's change, saying, "The tournament doesn't start until June 17. So, train hard, get used to the climate, have a bit of freedom, bit of downtime."
