Bellingham and England squad rest in Atlanta ahead of Argentina World Cup semi-final

England’s squad used a rest day at their Kansas City base before travelling to Atlanta, Georgia, for their World Cup semi-final against Argentina, with Thomas Tuchel’s side having covered more than 14,000 miles across the tournament — further than any other remaining team.

Jude Bellingham, who scored both goals in England’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway, was among the players pictured relaxing ahead of the flight south. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also appeared in good spirits, while Ezri Konsa, Declan Rice and Nico O’Reilly provided a lighter moment by playing with a volleyball painted to resemble Wilson — the inanimate companion from the 2000 film Cast Away — in what appeared to be a winking nod to the squad’s extraordinary travel demands.

England’s 14,000-mile journey to the semi-finals is roughly seven times the distance covered by France, who are widely regarded as tournament favourites, and significantly more than Argentina’s route to the same stage.

In Atlanta, authorities have ramped up their security presence ahead of the fixture. The city’s fanzone has sold out entirely, and the Atlanta Police Department confirmed it has deployed additional officers across entertainment districts and high-traffic areas as a precautionary measure, acknowledging the England–Argentina fixture carries a particular edge given the history between the two nations and their supporters.

“The Atlanta Police Department has enhanced its citywide public safety and security posture,” a spokesperson said. “These proactive measures are designed to protect the public, deter criminal activity, and ensure residents and visitors can safely enjoy this historic event.”

England supporters travelling to the game were praised for their conduct throughout the tournament. Fan Peter Thompson, 63, said: “It’s been a wonderful tournament so far — let’s hope it continues. Our fans have been brilliant and I expect that will be the same tomorrow.”

Police stressed they were not anticipating trouble but acknowledged the rivalry between the two sets of fans — who will be seated together inside the stadium — warranted a visible and prepared response.

To reach Atlanta, England have played matches in Dallas, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Mexico City and Miami, all while operating from their base in Kansas City, Missouri. The semi-final kicks off at 3pm local time in Atlanta.