Nine Injured in Shooting 7km From England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Base in Kansas City

A mass shooting occurred in Kansas City, Missouri, in the early hours of Saturday, June 7, 2026, approximately seven kilometres from Swope Soccer Village — the facility earmarked as England’s base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nine people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident, which took place on Troost Avenue.

According to reports citing The Athletic, local police responded to calls of intense gunfire at around 4:00 a.m. local time, arriving to find a large crowd dispersing from the scene. Emergency responders treated three injured women at the location, while six additional adults independently sought medical attention at local hospitals. No arrests have been confirmed, and law enforcement investigations are described as ongoing.

England’s squad were not in Kansas City at the time of the incident. Thomas Tuchel’s side are currently in Florida completing their pre-tournament preparations, having recorded a 1-0 friendly victory over New Zealand in Tampa. The squad is not scheduled to arrive at their Kansas City base until Saturday, June 13.

The shooting has intensified existing concerns around gun violence and public safety in the United States ahead of the country’s co-hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. Kansas City is one of several host cities for the tournament, with its central geographic position making it a base for multiple competing nations. Alongside England, 2022 World Cup champions Argentina, the Netherlands, and Algeria are all reportedly planning to use facilities in the Kansas City area during the tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest in the tournament’s history, expanding to 48 teams for the first time. The United States will host 78 of the 104 matches across 11 cities, with Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium among the designated venues. Security planning for the tournament has been a subject of considerable discussion among organisers, host cities, and participating football associations in the lead-up to the competition.

England’s opening fixture at the 2026 World Cup and their full group-stage schedule will determine how long Tuchel’s squad remains stationed at the Kansas City base. Local authorities have not yet issued a formal statement directly addressing security arrangements for the national teams based in the city in light of the incident.