Kansas City, Witness to the Battle for the Team's Home

The case of spying in football matches is currently a hot topic, especially in England. Following the incident involving the Championship League team Southampton, the England national team is now very cautious ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Coincidentally, their training base is quite open and lacks privacy.

The England squad will train at Swope Soccer Village, Kansas City, Missouri, during the World Cup. The venue has become a topic of debate among supporters of "The Three Lions," as its facilities are quite basic. It serves as a training ground for the reserve team and the academy of the Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.

England coach Thomas Tuchel is also dissatisfied because the training ground is located in a relatively open area, only obstructed by a row of trees. In addition to needing to add outdoor fitness facilities and player relaxation areas due to limited amenities, the Football Association (FA) now has to enhance security measures.

"I think we will provide extra security there and we will build a little protection. Because of course, it is very important for you to be able to practice (privately). You do not want the opponent to know. That would give an additional advantage to the opposing team," said Tuchel.

England does not have many options. Swope Soccer Village is the most realistic training base as it is only a 20-minute drive from the team's accommodation. Initially, they targeted the Sporting KC Performance Center. This is the training facility for the main team of Sporting KC, which boasts top-notch amenities.

However, England must relinquish the venue to the defending champion team, Argentina. FIFA grants privileges to teams with higher world rankings to determine their venues. In addition to having a superior ranking, Argentina is also prioritized because they will compete in Kansas City. Meanwhile, England will not be playing in that city during the group stage.

Tuchel did not choose another city because he has already fallen in love. Among the 16 host cities, England's choice has been Kansas since early 2025. They are aiming for the tranquil atmosphere at the very classic Meadowbrook boutique hotel. The 134-acre hotel features a lake area and is surrounded by lush greenery.

Argentina was initially rumored to be settling in Miami. Their star player, Lionel Messi, has been comfortable in the city since playing for Inter Miami. However, according to The Athletic, the Argentine representative changed his mind after seeing the training facilities and enjoying the barbecue.

As a result, the choice fell to the city known for its best barbecue dishes. Argentina's choice is very realistic, as their group matches take place in Kansas and Dallas. If they were to insist on staying in Miami, the team coached by Lionel Scaloni would have to travel more than 2,000 kilometers for each match.

In this World Cup, with the situation of three host countries, team mobility becomes a challenge that cannot be overlooked. Each team must manage their transfers efficiently. If not, fatigue will haunt players who are already anticipating a packed match schedule. Tactics off the field can also determine who will be the champion.

When discussing the recipe for choosing a headquarters, no one is more deserving than Argentina. Messi and his teammates have proven at the 2022 Qatar World Cup that victory comes from "home." They succeeded due to the complete and comfortable training and accommodation facilities. Argentina chose Qatar University, while other teams stayed in hotels.

In the campus area, the Argentina squad can train and stay comfortably in a private area. They are far from tourist areas. "We can stay there, and the training is also very close. So we do not need to travel back and forth by bus for training and resting," said Scaloni in 2022, regarding the advantages of the base in Qatar.

The facilities in Kansas do not allow for a repeat of the experience from previous editions. Argentina will be staying at the Savoy Hotel, which is approximately a 19-minute drive from the team's training location. Nevertheless, this distance is relatively close compared to other teams. Moreover, they are also provided with the best training facilities.

One of the main activities of the Argentina squad in Qatar during their breaks is having traditional barbecues. They use this moment to relieve their mental burdens and strengthen team bonds. It is understandable that Argentina ultimately chose Kansas, as the barbecue offerings in that city are hard to match.

Speaking of the failure to choose a base, England has many stories to tell. One of them is from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They stayed at the five-star hotel, Royal Tulip, which is located in a tourist area. The less private situation, filled with tourists, and the holiday atmosphere were reported to have influenced the team's total failure.

The best base is the base of the winning team.

Gareth Southgate, the coach of England from 2016 to 2024, changed this luxurious habit. He always preferred simple hotels with a rural atmosphere to maintain the privacy and tranquility of the players. England has not yet been able to win a major tournament, but they have consistently managed to progress far in competitions.

Tuchel seems to be attempting to repeat that positive tradition in his first major tournament with "The Lion's Roar." That is why he chose a somewhat remote location, in the smallest host city for this edition. The coach aims to create his own "bubble" separate from the noise of the outside world.

A calm situation is crucial, as players must rest their mental and physical states as best as possible. This edition will be the longest World Cup with a total duration of 39 days. This demand is what makes Kansas a "honey" in this edition. In addition to Argentina and England, the Netherlands also chose a similar city.

Therefore, do not be surprised if one of the three teams will be smiling broadly at the end of the tournament. A good home ground usually provides its own advantages, and the opposite is also true. It is only natural that each team is competing fiercely for home ground in this World Cup.

Regardless of that, legendary English striker Alan Shearer sees something more important. "The best home is the home of a winning team. You can have the best facilities in the world, but the final results will determine the mood," he stated. (AP/REUTERS)