England will be on familiar territory in Kansas City as they plot a first World Cup victory since 1966.
According to reports in the US, Thomas Tuchel’s side will be based at the Swope Soccer Village, which has been used by both Manchester clubs and Newcastle United on previous trips across the Atlantic.
Argentina and the Netherlands will also set up camp in the Midwest city which has, perhaps, unexpectedly, become one of the tournament’s major hubs.
Lionel Messi and the defending champions are expected to be based at the current training ground of the MLS’s Sporting Kansas City, while the Dutch will sharpen their skills at the training base of the women’s team, the Kansas City Current.
Argentina are understood to have effectively had first choice with FIFA as they begin their defence at the city’s Arrowhead Stadium. The Netherlands also play a game there, while England’s group matches are in Dallas, Boston and New York.
England are set to be based at Kansas’ Swope Soccer Village for their World Cup campaign
Regardless, it is thought that the area’s location, abundance of facilities and fact that it should not mean lengthy flights to matches pushed the Three Lions in Kansas City’s direction. Harry Kane and the team’s leadership group were consulted and the preference was to establish a base with personalised touches rather than city hop throughout the tournament. Algeria will also be in the vicinity.
England are set for the Swope Soccer Village, a $20m facility opened in 2007 which has hosted both Manchester clubs, Newcastle United and Stoke City while they were on US tours. The campus, based in the heart of the historic Swope Park, features six synthetic surfaces and three Bermuda grass pitches. The facility, the former base for the MLS’s Sporting Kansas City, also features a mini-stadium which can hold around 2,000 spectators.
Sporting Kansas City’s academy are currently based at the site.
Algeria are likely to go Rock Chalk Park in nearby Lawrence.
FIFA are yet to confirm the locations but locals are already talking about a major economic windfall for the city.
