A man carrying a wrench walked into England’s World Cup media centre in Kansas City on Thursday, forcing local police to escort him out before any players or coaching staff arrived. The Football Association said it will review security protocols after the incident, which occurred at a community building about half a mile from Swope Soccer Village, where the squad trained earlier that day.
No members of the England playing group or coaching staff were on the scene when the man, who appeared to be in distress, entered the media centre, according to reports. Police dealt with the individual peacefully, and the FA later confirmed it would investigate how the breach happened.
“FA to review security after man carrying wrench entered England's World Cup media centre in Kansas City.”
The intrusion came a day after England’s historic win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium – a victory Thomas Tuchel hailed as one of the team’s all-time great performances. The manager, however, insisted that style matters less than survival. “You just need to get it done,” he said, comparing the knockout rounds to a gritty FA Cup tie away at Sunderland in January. “No one will ask you any more how you did it.”
England now prepare for a World Cup quarter-final against Norway, flying to Miami on the eve of the match. Should they win, they could return to the Kansas City facilities next week for the semi-finals. The security breach, though brief, has added an unwelcome distraction to a squad still basking in their most complete display of the tournament so far, after underwhelming wins against Ghana and a scare against DR Congo.
The FA’s review will examine how the man gained entry, and whether any further measures are needed to protect the team’s base as they push deeper into the competition.