Childhood postcards and 2Pac on the speakers: inside England's World Cup 2026 base camp

England’s World Cup base camp blends nostalgia with team spirit, as the FA has lined the squad’s headquarters with postcards mapping every player’s footballing roots — carrying the message that ‘every story starts somewhere’.

The installation features a map of England pinpointing the grassroots clubs and schools where each squad member began their journey. Jude Bellingham, from Stourbridge, is traced back to Hayley Primary School, while Morgan Rogers — a school friend and childhood rival from nearby Halesowen — started at Halas Hawks JFC. The pair joked about facing each other in junior football in the Midlands before both progressing through England’s youth ranks, with Bellingham notably playing in older age groups from an early stage.

Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford share Wearside roots: Henderson’s journey began at Fulwell Juniors and Pickford’s at Washington Envelopes, before both came through the Sunderland academy. Henderson, appearing in his sixth major tournament, said the squad’s mood is strong. “There is a good vibe, it is a really good environment, a really good culture in the group,” he said, adding that players have been bonding on the team bus by playing a word-guessing app called Imposter.

Goalkeepers Dean Henderson and James Trafford both hail from Cumbria — Dean from Whitehaven Miners and James from Cockermouth FC. Dan Burn, the 34-year-old Newcastle United defender, acknowledged the significance of his first World Cup after starting out at Blyth Spartans. Fellow Geordie Elliot Anderson, 23, from Whitley Bay, came through Wallsend Boys Club — the Tyneside institution that also produced Alan Shearer and Michael Carrick.

Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo (Cheadle Gatley JFC) and Marcus Rashford (Fletcher Moss Rangers), along with Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly (Moston Tigers), represent the squad’s Mancunian contingent. On Merseyside, Anthony Gordon played for Whiston Juniors and Jarell Quansah for Woolston Rovers.

On the training pitch, the mood matched the sunshine — players worked in 24°C temperatures with music blasting from a large speaker, including 2Pac’s ‘Ambitionz Az A Ridah’. Henderson summed up the collective feeling simply: they “cannot wait to get started”.