England’s Kansas City World Cup hotel and training

England’s team base in Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup is unlike any setup the squad has used before — not necessarily because of luxury, but because of the trade-offs required by geography. The Football Association has long been the envy of other nations at major tournaments, offering top-tier accommodation and facilities. But this time, the options were limited.

FIFA gave priority to nations playing group matches in their chosen area. England’s group games are spread across Dallas (500 miles away), Boston (1,300 miles), and New Jersey (1,200 miles). That forced the team to base itself in Kansas City to keep flight times under three and a half hours for any match.

Even then, England got third pick for training facilities behind Netherlands and world champions Argentina, both of whom have group games in Missouri. So the FA had to compromise.

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A five-star hotel with limited privacy

The hotel itself is not what the team is used to. It’s a boutique five-star property with just 54 rooms, set in idyllic gardens and parkland. The building is a flat-board American design, surrounded by fountains and dark green grass. But the gardens are open to the public — not exclusive to the squad.

It sits in the middle of a park.

It is surrounded by some of the most expensive real estate in the area. Manicured lawns and immaculate landscaping are the norm. For the next few weeks, wealthy locals will live within a few hundred metres of some of the world’s most famous footballers.

Its small size means there is very little secluded outdoor space. That’s a shift from past tournaments, where the squad often had sprawling, private compounds.

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Making the space work

Despite the constraints, it has made the property its own.

A short walk around the perimeter reveals a basketball hoop looming above the fencing, newly-planted trees offering shade, and seating areas for players to relax. There is also a large white tent packed with air-conditioning ducts, housing all the gym equipment.

Players’ rooms will be personalised with specific bedding, pillows, and photos of loved ones. They also plan to book a steady stream of famous guests to entertain the players during downtime.

Every bedroom has access to all the Sky Sports channels.

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Last week in West Palm Beach, golfer Brooks Koepka played a round with England’s golf-loving squad members. At the Euros in Germany two years ago, Ed Sheeran performed an in-camp gig. Something similar is expected in Kansas City.

Travel logistics come first

The association has put travel logistics ahead of the perfect training base this time. Heat and transport times are seen as the biggest obstacles to winning the World Cup. The strategy is to minimise journey times and reduce athlete fatigue as much as possible.

But that has come at a cost. The trade-off is deliberate, and the squad is betting that shorter flights will matter more than a secluded compound come match day.