Nine people have been injured in a shooting in Kansas City – just four miles from the training base and team hotel where the England squad will be stationed during the early stages of the World Cup.
Police were called to Troost Avenue at around 4 a.m. on Saturday after shots were heard, the Kansas City Police Department confirmed. Officers arrived to find a large crowd dispersing and three adult females with injuries. Emergency services rushed them to a local hospital. It later emerged that a total of nine adults had presented at various local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
No suspects are currently in custody, and law enforcement officers are maintaining a heavy patrol presence in the area as the investigation continues.
The shooting site lies a short drive from Swope Soccer Village, the home of Sporting KC’s reserve team and academy, where the England squad will train during the opening stage of the tournament. The team is scheduled to arrive in Kansas City on June 13 after pre-tournament preparations in Florida, which have included a 1-0 victory over New Zealand in Tampa and a scheduled warm-up match against Costa Rica on Wednesday at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando.
Other World Cup teams will also be based in the city: Argentina will use Sporting Kansas City’s main training facility, while the Netherlands will train at the base used by the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Local impact of gun violence
Kansas City has recorded 139 homicides in 2025, down from a record 185 in 2023 and 145 in 2024, according to city data. Nonetheless, non-fatal shootings remain a persistent concern, with some reports suggesting incidents have become more lethal. Mayor Quinton Lucas, a Democrat, has been an outspoken advocate for stricter gun control and has expressed frustration with state-level restrictions that limit local authorities’ ability to enact their own gun laws. He has supported local ordinances banning devices that convert firearms into automatic weapons and prohibiting the transfer of weapons to minors.
One local resident, Kate Fowler, who lives a short distance from Troost Avenue, said she woke up to find a bullet hole in the front of her home and a stray bullet on the floor of her living room. She shared images of the bullet shell and the damage on Facebook, adding that she had heard shots in the area on Friday night as well as early Saturday morning.
Security implications for the England team
The shooting has cast a spotlight on the security arrangements for the England squad, which will be based in a city that recorded nearly 140 homicides last year. The Football Association is reported to be taking additional precautions, including the potential installation of protective fences around the Swope Soccer Village facility, amid concerns about the privacy of the training camp. The issue has been heightened by the recent “spygate” scandal in English football, and officials are said to be deploying unprecedented security measures, including anti-drone technology and the establishment of no-fly zones, to prevent any attempts at espionage or sabotage.
Mayor Quinton Lucas, when visited by reporters last month, attempted to reassure the team and its supporters. “I think the threats people are under are heightened frankly when almost everybody can walk around with a firearm, particularly one of high capacity,” he said. “That’s a very real problem. In terms of what we’ll do there will be a strong law enforcement presence everywhere. As for VIPs they will be the safest people in this city, in this country, not only with their own security teams but also enhanced security with help from local law enforcement.”
The England squad, captained by Harry Kane, are currently in West Palm Beach, Florida. After their match against Costa Rica on June 10, they will fly to Kansas City on June 13. Their World Cup group-stage fixtures include matches against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, Ghana in Boston on June 23, and Panama in New York/New Jersey on June 27.
