England's World Cup preparations were briefly disrupted after players and staff were forced to take shelter following a severe weather warning that included the threat of a potentially deadly tornado in Kansas City.
The Three Lions arrived in the city on Saturday morning and completed their first training session at Swope Soccer Village under clear skies and warm sunshine. However, conditions changed dramatically later in the evening as a powerful storm system swept across the Kansas-Missouri border.
Members of the England camp, along with residents throughout the area, received an emergency alert on their mobile phones warning of destructive weather conditions.
The notification stated: "Critical. Imminent Threat Alert. National Weather Service: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING in effect for this area until 9:00 PM CDT for DESTRUCTIVE 80 mph winds. Take shelter in a sturdy building, away from windows. Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter."
The warning also advised residents to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building, while noting that a Tornado Watch remained in effect until 11:00 PM CDT for parts of Kansas and Missouri.
Following official guidance, England's players and staff remained indoors as heavy rain, intense lightning, thunder, and strong winds battered the region.
The national team is based at Sporting KC's headquarters, located approximately seven miles from their accommodation, The Inn at Meadowbrook, an English-style resort situated south of Kansas City.
The severe weather came as a stark contrast to the pleasant conditions earlier in the day when around 300 local fans watched England train in bright sunshine. By evening, however, locals described the storm as one of the most intense weather events to hit the area in the past year, with warning sirens sounding across parts of the city.
Concerns about extreme weather had already prompted England officials to prepare emergency procedures before the tournament. Reports in May indicated that players would receive tornado safety briefings due to the team's location within the region commonly known as "Tornado Alley."
A hotel staff member explained that guests would be instructed to seek shelter in bathrooms or interior rooms away from windows if tornado sirens were activated.
An FA source said contingency plans had been put in place despite the low likelihood of a direct tornado strike.
"While a twister is unlikely, and the chances of a direct hit even more remote, things have to be put in place. The security team have spoken to the hotel and know the drills, and this advice will be passed on to the players and team staff," the source said.
The weather scare comes just days after England's friendly match against Costa Rica was delayed by an hour because of another major thunderstorm.
The incident adds to a turbulent week for the squad, which has also dealt with the theft and subsequent recovery of training equipment and boots, while the team's chef reportedly faced travel disruption after being prevented from boarding a train while carrying kitchen knives.
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