England's World Cup preparations faced an unexpected disruption shortly after the squad arrived in Kansas City, as the city was placed under a tornado warning. Residents were urged to seek shelter from a severe thunderstorm that threatened the area.
Severe Weather Alert
The weather service warned that the storm could bring winds of up to 80 miles per hour (129 km/h), with tornado sirens sounding on Saturday evening, according to Reuters. A weather alert advised residents to take shelter in a sturdy building away from windows, noting that flying debris could be deadly.
Impact on England Squad
British media reports indicated that England players were instructed to stay indoors as a safety measure. A fan festival in the city was also shut down early. The squad had earlier conducted a community training session in the afternoon before the tornado warning was issued.
England, coached by Thomas Tuchel, is set to begin their Group L campaign against Croatia on Wednesday in Arlington. The team had already dealt with a training kit theft prior to arriving in Kansas City.
England's World Cup 2026 Squad
- Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford
- Defenders: Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O'Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, John Stones
- Midfielders: Elliott Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers
- Forwards: Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins
England's preparations continue as they aim for a strong start in the tournament.
