The Football Association has expressed concerns that England's World Cup training base in Kansas City lacks sufficient privacy, prompting plans to erect protective fencing to prevent rival teams from spying on sessions. This comes amid the ongoing spygate scandal, which saw Southampton expelled from the Championship playoff final for illegally surveilling opponents' training.
England will stay at the Swope Soccer Village, home to Sporting Kansas City's academy teams, after their first-choice facility—Sporting Kansas City’s performance centre—was secured by Argentina. The base is a 20-minute drive from the team hotel and will be used for all matches, starting with their opener against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June.
The FA will add an outdoor gym and players’ lounge to the facility, but head coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the site is exposed. “It can be overlooked,” he said. “We will have security there and build a bit of protection. It’s crucial if you train on matchday minus-one, you do your team buildups, set pieces, and penalties—you don’t want the opponent to know.”
Tuchel confirmed that Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, Fulham midfielder Josh King, and Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha will join the training squad in Florida for World Cup preparations. Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele will remain as a training goalkeeper throughout the tournament.
