England to make sprawling £15m facility used by Manchester United and Man City as 2026 World Cup base
There’s no place like home for England – but Kansas City will be their next best choice at the World Cup this summer.
The Three Lions will reportedly be relocated in the ‘Heart of America’ for the duration of their stay in the global tournament.
If it’s good enough for Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, it’s more than suitable for Thomas Tuchel in his quest to end England’s 60-year wait for silverware.
It has been speculated that the 1966 World Cup winners will be based at the Swope Soccer Village.
The Football Association are claimed to have submitted a request to stay in Missouri, with the £15million Swope facility their first-choice option.
Though FIFA are expected to not give the all-clear regarding the location of facilities for each competing nation until next month.
Reports state that England skipper Harry Kane along with his fellow leadership group were consulted about the FA’s preference.
Despite England having no group games in Kansas – with games taking place in they prefer to stay in Dallas, Boston and New York – they prefer to remain in one location.
The state-of-the-art Swope facility has been a Premier League favourite for a number of clubs who have passed through Kansas during US pre-season tours.
Manchester United have spent time there when travelling across the Atlantic.
Meanwhile, their rivals Manchester City have also been based there, along with Newcastle and Stoke.
The sprawling facility boasts nine football pitches, of which six have have synthetic surfaces and three have Bermuda grass fields.
There is also a 2,000-seater mini-stadium located on the campus.
Opened in 2007, the complex has been the former base of MLS outfit Sporting Kansas City, with it now serving as the home for their academy.
Kansas is poised to welcome a host of top countries with it to be one of the major hubs of the World Cup.
Holders Argentina had priority in selecting their base as they kick off the defence of their city at the city’s Arrowhead Stadium.
They are expected to be located at Sporting’s new training ground.
Meanwhile, Netherlands are another side that will be sharpening their skills in the ‘City of Fountains’ at the home of NWSL side Kansas City Current.
Like Argentina, they also have a match at Arrowhead – their final Group F encounter against Tunisia.
And lastly, African giants Algeria could be based at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas.
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