England Scout for World Cup Camps Following Worries of Losing First-Choice Site to Holland.
The FA has dispatched scouts to the US this week to inspect potential bases for the upcoming global finals, amidst increasing concerns that their preferred location could be allocated by the Dutch national team.
Tournament Draw Complexities Change Preparations
Manager Thomas Tuchel had earlier cleared an FA plan for England to locate in Kansas following a warm-up training period in Fort Lauderdale. Yet, after last week's tournament draw, there are now concerns that the Netherlands, who play their group stage matches in Kansas, will be awarded first refusal on the chosen facility at Sporting Kansas City—a state-of-the-art centre operated by US Soccer.
The world governing body assigns training camps based on geographic location and world rankings if there is competition, with the draw potentially pitting the FA against the Netherlands and Argentina for bases in the tournament's central region.
Considering Other Sites
With England's group stage matches scheduled to take place in Dallas, Boston, and New Jersey, the FA is now understood to be exploring alternative locations on the east coast. The association began its search for training bases at the beginning of the year, with Tuchel and technical director John McDermott visiting possible sites during the Club World Cup last summer.
Despite this early preparation, there was always an understanding that the final tournament draw could significantly alter their plans.
Knockout Stage Logistics Plans
England face the eighth most arduous group stage schedule in terms of mileage. Winning Group L would put England on track for a last-32 game in Atlanta, followed by potential round of 16 match in Mexico City.
- Major Departure: The FA may decide to travel from match to match for the knockout stages if England progress, a significant shift from its standard protocol of having a single tournament base.
- FIFA Recommendation: FIFA is understood to be recommending such a itinerant approach for the expansive 2026 tournament.
After the base camp is finalized, the FA will turn its attention to organizing two warm-up matches in Florida at the beginning of June.
