FA to review security after man with wrench walks into England's World Cup media centre

The Football Association will review its security procedures after a man carrying a wrench walked into England’s World Cup media centre in Kansas City on Thursday, with local police called to remove him from the premises.

The individual, who appeared to be in distress, entered the community building that is serving as England’s media centre — located around half a mile from Swope Soccer Village, where the squad were training at the time. No members of the playing group or coaching staff were present during the incident.

Local police dealt with the situation, and the FA is now set to assess how the breach occurred. England could return to their Kansas City base next week if they progress past Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals, making the review a matter of some urgency.

The incident did not appear to disrupt England’s preparations. The squad are riding high after their historic win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium — widely regarded as one of the team’s greatest World Cup performances — and are now focused on the quarter-final against Norway, with the team due to fly from the Midwest to Miami on the eve of the match.

Manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that England’s earlier performances in the tournament against Ghana and DR Congo had been unconvincing, but drew on a football analogy to frame the team’s mentality in the knockout rounds.

“I think in general what it takes in the round of 32 and the round of 16 … that was how we framed it with the team, it’s just you find a way to win,” Tuchel said. “If you want to be at Wembley in the end you just need to get it done. No one will ask you any more how you did it.”

The German added that the more demanding tests — and the opportunity to express a clearer identity — would come in the later stages of the competition. “Then comes the exciting times. Then comes April, then comes May, things can become easier and then you have your identity and you have to let go.”