At least nine people were injured in a shooting incident near England’s base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City, United States, raising fresh security concerns just days before the tournament begins.
Gatekeepers News reports that the shooting occurred in the early hours of Saturday on Troost Avenue, about four miles from England’s designated training facility, Swope Soccer Village, and close to the hotel the team is expected to use during the competition.
According to local authorities, police officers responding to reports of gunfire found multiple victims at the scene, while others later arrived at hospitals in private vehicles. All nine victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made, and investigators are still working to determine the cause of the shooting.
England’s squad and coaching staff were not in Kansas City when the incident occurred. The team is currently training in Florida and is scheduled to move to Kansas City ahead of its World Cup campaign.
The incident comes only days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico on June 11. England, popularly known as the Three Lions, will use Kansas City as their operational base during the group stage, with security officials reportedly coordinating closely with local and federal authorities to ensure the safety of players and staff.
The Football Association has not issued an official comment on the shooting.
