England and Argentina share Kansas City as their World Cup 2026 base this summer

Thomas Tuchel’s England will spend the 2026 World Cup based in Kansas City, Missouri, training at Swope Soccer Village — home of Sporting Kansas City’s reserve side — and staying at the Inn at Meadowbrook hotel. The city, which brands itself the “Soccer Capital of America”, is also hosting reigning champions Argentina, the Netherlands, and Algeria, making it the most densely populated hub of contenders in the tournament.

The Football Association had targeted the Compass Minerals National Performance Center as England’s training base, but lost out to Argentina, whose status as defending champions gave Lionel Scaloni’s side first pick of the city’s facilities. The Netherlands are using KC Current’s training ground, while Algeria are based at the University of Kansas. Two of the six Group J fixtures — the group that includes Argentina — will be played in Kansas City.

Kansas City only secured host-city status after stepping in when Chicago withdrew, but it has invested close to $700 million (£522m) in football infrastructure. MLS side Sporting Kansas City and NWSL outfit KC Current both play in purpose-built stadiums in the region.

“We are delighted to welcome England,” said Pam Kramer, chief executive of KC2026. “The arrival of one of the world’s most followed national teams is a significant moment for our city. England’s decision to base themselves in Kansas City reflects our passionate sports culture, our spirit of hospitality and the world-class facilities that define our region.”

Kramer added that hosting four nations amounts to “a powerful endorsement of the investments in our region and proof that the global game has become part of the fabric of life here.”

The city is also leaning into its role as a fan destination. Around 25,000 supporters gathered near the WW1 Memorial and Museum to watch the United States open their tournament with a 4-1 win over Paraguay, and organisers have lined up performers including Flo Rida, Sheryl Crow, and The Chainsmokers for the Fifa Fan Festival.

For England, the stakes are historic. The last time they won the World Cup, in 1966, the squad was based at the Hendon Hall hotel in north London. A second title would be celebrated a long way from home — deep in the American Midwest.