England's World Cup preparations in Kansas were thrown into chaos on Saturday night when a tornado siren sounded and a severe thunderstorm warning was issued. The National Weather Service sent an 'imminent threat alert' to residents, warning of 'destructive' winds reaching 80 mph and potentially 'deadly' flying debris. People were urged to take shelter in sturdy buildings away from windows.
Training Disrupted
The England team had arrived in Kansas City earlier on Saturday and completed an afternoon training session without incident. However, the weather warning led to the closure of the FIFA Fan Festival in the city, with organizers citing anticipated severe weather as the reason. Power outages were reported in Kansas City and across Missouri.
Tornado Threat Eases
While the immediate tornado threat passed, the National Weather Service confirmed that the storm had weakened below severe limits and was no longer capable of producing a tornado. However, a Tornado Watch remained in effect until 11 p.m. for west central Missouri, and gusty winds continued to pose a risk.
Previous Setbacks
This is not the first weather-related disruption for England's World Cup build-up. A friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando was delayed due to a storm earlier in the week. Additionally, the team's arrival in Kansas was marred by the theft of training kit from a van. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident, and Mayor Quinton Lucas confirmed that local, state, and federal officials were investigating. The stolen gear was later recovered, and goalkeeper Dean Henderson downplayed the issue, stating that all boots were returned and the team remained unfazed.
