The Football Association has chosen Kansas City as England's base for the 2026 World Cup, despite the team having no group matches in the city. The decision was driven by the central location, which limits travel times to a maximum of three-and-a-half hours, and the desire to provide a stable home environment for the squad.
The team is staying at the four-star Inn at Meadowbrook, which has been taken over exclusively. The hotel offers outdoor space, a basketball hoop, communal areas with screens, and a recovery zone with a sauna. Personal touches have been added to make players feel at home, including iPads with photo slideshows and personalised boxes from families.
Backup goalkeeper James Trafford revealed his room featured a slideshow of him and his partner, along with a box containing items to open at different stages of the tournament, including face masks and a Lego tractor set. Jordan Pickford, the first-choice goalkeeper, praised the FA's efforts, noting his family box included Haribos, photos, and cards.
Pickford, at his fifth major tournament, acknowledged the challenges of long camps but emphasised the positive atmosphere under manager Thomas Tuchel. “He’ll keep pushing that brotherhood and it’s down to the players to keep driving it,” Pickford said.
