ORLANDO, Florida — England’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have faced a turbulent few days after the squad’s Florida training base was rattled by a powerful earthquake, following earlier reports of a separate security incident near their future base camp in Missouri.
Seismic Tremors Shake Training Camp
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake, which originated off the west coast of Cuba on Monday, sent tremors across central and southern Florida. While the epicenter was hundreds of miles away, the shockwaves were felt strongly in cities including Orlando, Miami, and West Palm Beach, where the England squad is currently stationed.
The earthquake is being recorded as the most powerful to strike the region since 1880. Local authorities and the U.S. National Weather Service quickly confirmed there was no risk of a tsunami, and no major damage or injuries were reported at or near the team’s training facilities. However, the event prompted the temporary evacuation of several buildings in the area as a precautionary measure.
Security Incident Near Kansas City Base
The seismic disruption follows a separate security concern reported over the weekend. On Saturday, nine people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting incident in Kansas City, Missouri.
While the incident took place approximately 4.6 miles from Swope Soccer Village the facility designated as England’s base camp for the upcoming tournament local police confirmed that the event was entirely unrelated to the World Cup and did not occur near any tournament venues. The England squad was in Florida at the time and was not affected by the incident.
Looking Ahead to the World Cup
Despite these unexpected challenges, the Football Association has maintained its focus on the final stages of pre-tournament preparation. Having recently secured a 1-0 victory over New Zealand in Tampa, England is scheduled to face Costa Rica in a final friendly match in Orlando on Wednesday.
Following the match, the team is expected to relocate to Kansas City on June 13 to finalize their preparations.England’s World Cup campaign begins on June 17, when they face Croatia in Dallas, followed by group stage matches against Ghana in Boston and Panama in New Jersey.
