Kansas City's reputation as a premier soccer hub continues to grow as reports surface that England’s national team has placed the city at the top of its list for a 2026 FIFA World Cup base camp.
Coach Thomas Tuchel and the Football Association (FA) are said to be particularly impressed with the Sporting Kansas City Training Facility (Compass Minerals National Performance Center). The central location of Kansas City is a significant draw, offering efficient travel times to various match venues across North America.
However, the path to securing Kansas City is not without obstacles. FIFA's new "relocation rule," which requires teams to move closer to match venues after the group stage, has drawn criticism from Tuchel. Additionally, the Netherlands is also reportedly interested in the same facilities, and FIFA's allocation process may prioritize teams based on geographical proximity to their group-stage matches.
Despite these complexities, the interest from one of the world's most storied footballing nations underscores Kansas City's world-class facilities and its readiness to host the global game in 2026.