2026 FIFA World Cup: Mass shooting near England’s Kansas City base camp leaves 9 injured before team arrives

Nine people were injured in a mass shooting near the World Cup base camp in Kansas City, England, days before the team’s arrival. A mass shooting in Kansas City left nine injured just days before England are due to arrive in the city for the 2026 World Cup, sparking renewed attention to security preparations around the tournament.Authorities stressed that the incident was unrelated to the World Cup and did not take place near any of the tournament’s venues. Yet the shooting took place just a few miles from England’s planned training base, adding another layer of scrutiny to security measures ahead of football’s biggest event.All nine victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to survive.

The shooting happened near England’s future training base

According to Kansas City police, officers responded to reports of shots fired near East 79th Street and Troost Avenue at approximately 4 a.m. Saturday.When officers arrived, they found a large crowd leaving the area. Three women who were hit by gunfire were taken to nearby hospitals by emergency services. Police later found that six other people who traveled to hospitals in private vehicles also sustained injuries.Capt. Jake Becchina of the Kansas City Police Department confirmed that all nine victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries.No suspects have been taken into custody and the investigation remains ongoing.The shooting site is approximately 6.6 km from Swope Soccer Village, where England will train during the opening stages of the World Cup, reports The Independent. The team hotel is located considerably further away and police say it is roughly 15 miles from the crime scene.Officer Alayna Gonzalez emphasized that the shooting “did not occur near the World Cup venue or anything related to the World Cup,” including England’s base camp.

England was in Florida when the shooting happened

England players and staff were not in Kansas City at the time of the incident.Thomas Tuchel’s side are currently based in Florida as part of their final preparations before traveling to Missouri for the tournament.England beat New Zealand 1-0 in Tampa on Saturday afternoon thanks to a strike from captain Harry Kane. They are scheduled to face Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday before flying to Kansas City on June 13.

England’s Nico O’Reilly, second from right, and teammates run during a national soccer team training session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Kansas City has become one of the most popular World Cup base camp locations due to its central location in the United States and the quality of its training facilities. In addition to England, Argentina, Algeria and the Netherlands also chose the city as their tournament base.

England players run during a national soccer team training session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, ahead of the soccer World Cup tournament. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

England will train at Swope Soccer Village, home to Sporting Kansas City’s reserve and academy teams, while Argentina will use Sporting Kansas City’s main facility. Holland will be based in the practice facility used by the Kansas City Current.

Security is already a major focus ahead of the FIFA World Cup

The incident comes as local authorities continue extensive preparations for the arrival of players, staff and supporters ahead of the expanded 48-team tournament.According to KCTV5, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners recently accepted a $17 million federal grant dedicated to World Cup security and safety operations.“We knew we needed funding, so we continued to plan,” said Kansas City Police Department Deputy Chief Derek McCollum.“We assumed that that source of funding would eventually come.”Talk last month in the comments reported Daily MailKansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas acknowledged the security challenges facing major American cities, but insisted visiting teams will have extensive protection during the tournament.“I think the threats that people are exposed to are more honest when almost anyone can walk around with a firearm, especially a firearm,” Lucas said.“That’s a very real issue. In terms of what we’re going to do, there’s going to be a strong law enforcement presence everywhere.”“As for the VIPs, they will be the safest people in this city, in this country, not only with their own security teams, but with increased security with the help of local law enforcement.”

The mayor points to an unlicensed place

After Saturday’s shooting, Lucas said the violence occurred at an unlicensed after-hours club that operates in the area.In a Facebook postthe mayor criticized those involved in running such places.“To the irresponsible owners and promoters, I know the dollars are worth it, but are lives changed and too often lost and lawsuits worth anything to you too?” Lucas wrote.The shooting also affected nearby residents.Local resident Kate Fowler said The Kansas City Star that she and her husband woke up to find a bullet hole in the front window of their home. She later learned that gunfire had also been reported in the area on Friday night between 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., before the morning shooting.Fowler said hearing gunshots is not unusual in the neighborhood.“There are just unfortunate circumstances with some of the businesses here,” she told the paper.

Preparations for the tournament continue

Despite the incident, World Cup preparations are continuing across North America.Kansas City is one of several US cities playing a major role in the tournament and has invested heavily in security, infrastructure and logistics ahead of the arrival of thousands of fans.In England, attention now turns to their final warm-up game against Costa Rica before they travel to Missouri to begin preparations for their World Cup campaign.While police have repeatedly stressed that Saturday’s shooting was unrelated to the tournament, the incident serves as a reminder of the massive security operation surrounding the event, which is expected to attract millions of visitors across the United States, Canada and Mexico in the coming weeks.