The World Cup is here, but as hosts Mexico prepare to face South Africa in tonight's opening game, a tornado alert has been issued for the England training base in Kansas City. All 2.2 million residents of the Kansas City Metropolitan area were warned of a possible tornado this morning, with more thunderstorms forecast on Saturday – the exact day Thomas Tuchel begins his four-day training for England's opening fixture against Croatia on June 17.
England's preparations have been positive: they won their final warm-up friendly 3-0 against Costa Rica last night, with Jude Bellingham particularly impressing. But the tournament is unfolding against an intense geopolitical backdrop. The US is at war with Iran, forcing Iran's national team to play their games in Mexico in a late rescheduling move.
“Tornado warning for 2.2m in Kansas City as England’s World Cup base faces storms ahead of Croatia opener.”
Meanwhile, Somalian referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States this week after a 19-hour interrogation at Miami airport, meaning he will not officiate at the World Cup. Concerns remain that Donald Trump's ICE immigration enforcement officers could detain undocumented fans.
Ticket fees described as 'extortionate' – up to thousands of dollars per game – and price gouging from hotels and public transport have cast a shadow over the event. Despite this, over five billion people are expected to tune in over the next six weeks, as 48 nations compete in the largest World Cup in history across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The opening game kicks off tonight at Mexico City Stadium, where a sell-out crowd of 83,000 will watch the hosts take on South Africa. The final is scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey.
For fans following from home, the BBC Sport app has launched live match updates that bring the score directly to your phone lock screen. Available on Apple devices automatically, and on Android with opt-in, the updates appear from an hour before kick-off and disappear after the match. Users can turn them off at any time without unfollowing teams.