England To Make Kansas City It’s World Cup Base Ahead Of The 2026 WC In South America
England’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are taking shape as the national team looks set to make Kansas City its main base for the tournament campaign.
According to reports, the Three Lions will be building their training headquarters in the Midwest city as they plot their quest for a first World Cup title since 1966.
That planning includes using high-quality facilities in the Kansas City area that have already hosted elite football clubs during previous tours across the United States.
Sources say the England squad — managed by Thomas Tuchel — will be based at Swope Soccer Village, a training site in Kansas City that has previously been used by MLS teams and visiting European clubs during their pre-season tours. This venue has been identified as a central hub for players to train, recover, and build team cohesion throughout the tournament.
Kansas City has unexpectedly emerged as one of the major World Cup base locations this summer, drawing interest from multiple top-ranked national sides, including Argentina and the Netherlands.
Despite England’s group stage matches being scheduled in cities such as Dallas, Boston, and New York, the Football Association (FA) appears committed to keeping the team’s training base in one central location.
Training camp decisions are crucial in a World Cup that spans three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — and cover vast distances between host cities.
Establishing a consistent base can reduce travel fatigue and help create a familiar routine for players, coaches, and support staff.
Being based in Kansas City would mean easier access to multiple venues and better logistical support for the team’s overall tournament schedule.
The selection of Swope Soccer Village reflects England’s desire to ensure top-class preparations away from home.
While not officially listed as an approved FIFA base camp site in the tournament brochure, the facility has come up strongly in discussions due to its quality, accessibility, and proximity to other high-performance centers in the region.
In addition to Swope Soccer Village, other potential sites in the Kansas City area were explored as part of England’s base-camp planning, such as the Compass Minerals National Performance Center, which serves Sporting Kansas City and has also attracted interest as a training ground for international teams in recent months.
Kansas City’s appeal as a World Cup base camp hub goes beyond just England.
The region is now expected to host multiple national teams, each taking advantage of its central U.S. geographic position and high-quality facilities. Reports indicate that Argentina, the defending champions, could base their camp at Sporting KC’s main facility, while the Netherlands may use the Kansas City Current’s training center in Riverside, Missouri.
Algeria has also been linked with nearby facilities in Lawrence, Kansas.
Should England confirm their base in Kansas City, it will mean joining a cluster of elite national teams preparing in the same metropolitan area — a unique sight ahead of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
Football Association officials have taken several fact-finding trips to the United States, thoroughly reviewing training grounds, accommodation options, and travel logistics as part of their decision-making process.
Their goal is to build a base camp that feels like a “home away from home” for players and staff, allowing them to focus fully on performance when the tournament kicks off.
Being centrally located also offers strategic advantages in terms of travel time to matches. While England’s group matches are spread across major cities in the eastern United States, their knockout games could take them to venues further west — and a Kansas City base would help balance those distances better than staying on one of the coasts.
Aside from logistical benefits, Kansas City itself is ramping up its preparations to host World Cup visitors. Local authorities and organizing committees have been working on transportation plans, fan engagement events, and security arrangements to welcome both teams and supporters from around the world.
These efforts aim to make the area a vibrant hub during the tournament, not just for training camps but also for cultural exchanges and fan experiences.
As the World Cup approaches, England’s choice of base camp could become one of the most talked-about elements of their preparations.
Whether they confirm Kansas City and Swope Soccer Village as their headquarters remains one of the key decisions in the build-up to football’s biggest event, with FIFA expected to announce final training site allocations in the weeks ahead.
