The Three Lions Scout for World Cup Bases Following Worries of Missing Out On First-Choice Site to Netherlands.
England's football governing body has dispatched operational staff to the United States this week to look at potential bases for the forthcoming World Cup, amid increasing concerns that their preferred site could be allocated by the Netherlands.
Tournament Draw Complexities Alter Plans
Manager Thomas Tuchel had earlier approved an FA proposal for England to be based in Kansas after a pre-tournament training period in Fort Lauderdale. Yet, following the recent group stage draw, there are now concerns that the Netherlands, who play their group games in Kansas, will be awarded priority on the chosen facility at Sporting Kansas City—a state-of-the-art centre used by US Soccer.
FIFA assigns training camps based on geographic location and world rankings if there is a dispute, with the draw possibly placing the FA in competition with the Netherlands and Argentina for sites in the tournament's south-central region.
Exploring Other Sites
With England's group fixtures scheduled to take place in Dallas, Boston, and New Jersey, the FA is now reportedly investigating alternative locations on the east coast. The association began its search for training bases at the beginning of the year, with Tuchel and director of football John McDermott touring possible locations during the Club World Cup last summer.
In spite of this advanced planning, there was always an understanding that the final tournament draw could drastically change their plans.
Later Round Logistics Plans
The Three Lions face the eighth most demanding group stage schedule in terms of mileage. Winning Group L would put England on track for a round of 32 game in Atlanta, followed by possible last-16 tie in Mexico City.
- Significant Departure: The FA may decide to travel from match to match for the knockout stages should England qualify, a significant shift from its usual practice of having a single tournament base.
- Tournament Organizers Recommendation: FIFA is believed to be recommending such a flexible approach for the vast 2026 tournament.
After the training base is confirmed, the FA will focus on scheduling two pre-tournament matches in Florida at the beginning of June.