A sudden burst of gunfire shattered the relative calm of a quiet street near England’s World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri, early on Thursday afternoon. The shots rang out on Troost Avenue, just a short walk from the team’s hotel and training complex, and sent a crowd of onlookers scattering.
Emergency responders arrived within minutes, finding a large group of people dispersing in panic. Paramedics treated three adult women at the scene before transporting nine adults in total to local hospitals, where they were reported to have non‑life‑threatening injuries.
Police cordon off the area as investigations begin
The Kansas City Police Department confirmed that no suspects have been apprehended and that officers are maintaining a visible presence in the neighborhood. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses as they try to piece together the motive behind the attack.
England’s squad has been based in Palm Beach, Florida, for the past week, using the time to fine‑tune their fitness and tactics ahead of the tournament. Their first warm‑up match ended with a 1‑0 victory over New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday, and they are scheduled to face Costa Rica at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Wednesday.
The team will board a flight to Kansas City on June 13 and settle into the Swope Soccer Village, the training ground of Sporting Kansas City’s reserve side. Argentina and the Netherlands, also part of the World Cup contingent in the city, will use the same facilities, with the Dutch setting up at the base of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current.
An official from the Football Association declined to comment when approached by The Athletic, leaving many questions unanswered as the investigation continues.