Nine injured in shooting near England's World Cup base in Kansas City, days before team's arrival
A shooting on Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, left nine adults with non-life-threatening injuries early Saturday, roughly four to eight kilometres from the training facility where England will prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
The incident
Police responded to reports of shots fired on Troost Avenue in south Kansas City at around 4 a.m. local time on Saturday, 6 June. Officers arrived to find a large crowd dispersing. Three adult women with gunshot wounds were transported from the scene to hospital. In the hours that followed, six additional adults presented at various local hospitals with injuries linked to the shooting. All nine victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Kansas City Police Department.
This did not happen near a World Cup site or anything related to the World Cup.
No suspects were in custody as of Sunday, and the investigation into the motive and those responsible remained ongoing. Captain Jake Becchina of the Kansas City Police Department confirmed that officers continued to patrol the area.
Proximity to England's camp
The shooting occurred on Troost Avenue, a short drive from the Swope Soccer Village, where England are scheduled to train during the tournament. Reports place the distance between the shooting site and the team's training base and hotel at roughly four to eight kilometres (three to six and a half miles). Swope Soccer Village serves as the home of Sporting KC's reserve team and academy, located in the south-east of the city.
England's preparations
England's players and staff were not in Kansas City at the time of the incident. The squad, managed by Thomas Tuchel, is currently in Florida completing its World Cup preparations. On Saturday, England defeated New Zealand 1-0 in a friendly at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, with captain Harry Kane scoring the only goal. A second warm-up match against Costa Rica is scheduled for Wednesday at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. The team is expected to fly to Kansas City on Saturday, 13 June, ahead of their Group L opener against Croatia on 17 June.
[The FA declined to comment.]
Other teams based in Kansas City
Kansas City is one of the most heavily involved host cities for the 2026 World Cup. Beyond England, several other major national teams have chosen to establish their base camps there. Argentina, the reigning world champions, will use Sporting KC's main training facility. The Netherlands will train at the base of NWSL side Kansas City Current. Algeria is also reported to be based in the city.
Broader security context
The shooting has drawn attention to security challenges facing host cities less than a week before the tournament kicks off on 11 June. Gun violence is a persistent issue in the United States. The Gun Violence Archive recorded more than 400 mass shootings in the country in 2025. According to one report, the U.S. has already registered 170 mass shootings this year involving four or more victims, excluding the attacker. In a separate incident on Saturday, a shooting at a community festival in Toledo, Ohio, left 12 people injured.
