Some stories arrive at the worst possible moment.
The World Cup hasn’t even started yet.
And England’s opening game against Senegal is still days away.
Yet, the city that has been chosen as their base has been shaken by an incident that has put the safety conversation back at the top of the agenda.
Nine people injured in shooting just four miles from England’s World Cup base in Kansas City
According to The Athletic, a shooting took place near England’s World Cup base in Kansas City, with nine people reported injured in the incident.
The shooting occurred approximately four miles from the Inn at Meadowbrook in Prairie Village.
The hotel where Thomas Tuchel and his squad are based for the duration of their World Cup campaign.
There is no suggestion that any England players, staff or officials were involved or in danger.
But the proximity of the incident has immediately intensified the conversations that have surrounded this World Cup since it was awarded to the United States.
Kansas City was selected as one of the competition’s host venues following an exhaustive process.
And has worked hard to demonstrate its credentials as a host city.
The city will stage six group-stage and knockout matches at Arrowhead Stadium, including a quarter-final.
England, Argentina and the Netherlands are all based in the area.
This is not the first time Kansas City has been in the spotlight for gun violence in recent memory.
In February 2024, a mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade left one person dead and more than 20 injured at Union Station.
An incident that prompted immediate global discussion about what it meant for the safety of the upcoming World Cup.
That conversation is happening again today.
England haven’t commented publicly on the incident.
But the shadow cast by Saturday’s shooting will not disappear quickly.
The beautiful game is here.
Yet, it’s impossible not to notice what’s happening around it.
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