UK media blasted for linking KC shooting to England’s World Cup training site
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- An article from The Athletic headlined a KC shooting as near England’s World Cup base.
- Mayor Quinton Lucas said the shooting was nowhere near England’s training or lodging.
- English outlets and commenters framed the shooting as tied to World Cup security concerns.
Nine people were injured early Saturday morning in a shooting at the 7900 block of Troost Avenue.
That’s roughly a 10-minute drive and 5-mile trip from Swope Soccer Village, where the England men’s soccer team will make its base camp during the World Cup.
While not exactly close in proximity, The Athletic wrote a story with this headline: “Nine injured in shooting near England’s World Cup base in Kansas City.” The Athletic shared the story on X and said: “Police were called to reports of an incident on Troost Avenue, a short drive from the training base and team hotel England will use during the tournament, at around 4am on Saturday morning.”
Although he didn’t note that England’s hotel is in Prairie Village, KC Mayor Quinton Lucas took issue with the story while responding to The Athletic’s post on X.
“The shooting at an after hours club is a tragedy. It is also nowhere near England’s or any country’s training or lodging facilities,” the mayor wrote on X.
“We are grateful there was no loss of life. We will hold the offenders and all in violation of the law accountable.”
The Daily Mail also linked the crime scene to England’s base camp. The headline to their story: “Nine people injured in mass shooting near England’s World Cup base in Kansas City.”
To be fair, Troost Avenue is closer to England’s base camp than, say, London.
That story was more ominous and contained this sentence: “A major security scare has rocked the buildup to the World Cup after nine people were injured in a shooting just a short drive from England’s tournament training base.”
Some of the comments to the stories, which were both written by English journalists, showed fans expect violence in Kansas City during the World Cup.
“Well that was predictable,” a fan named Christian wrote. “Hope those hurt have full recoveries, though this’ll be the first of several I’m sure. It’s absolutely insane to think both Russia and Qatar are both safer, more responsible and less problematic hosts than America!”
Another shared this: “Welcome to gun happy America, England Lions. Hope you are well and will kick USMNT if you play them. Go England!”
A likely British fan opined: “Welcome to the U.S. of A. now pass the ammunition.”
“Honestly,” a person in Canada wrote, “so concerning that cities with this kind of violence are hosting World Cup matches.”
A fan named Paul wrote: “UK doesn’t get the WC because of ‘hooligan problem’ but give it to USA where shooting 9 people is considered normal. Are we waiting for a massacre before boycotting the whole thing?”
On X, a fan wrote: “If this happened in Qatar or Brazil there would be uproar, but because it’s America nobody will care. Unbelievable putting the biggest sporting event in a war torn country.”
Another shared: “The US should never host a world event. It’s not a safe country.”
And then there was this: “Such a horrifying news, you would think they will behave now they’re hosting the entire world but no, it’s a normal life for them.”
Amid this hysteria, it’s worth noting that the home pitch for England’s national team is Wembley Stadium, and in December a man was murdered just 5 minutes from that facility. There was no concern for the safety of players after that crime.
Like the mayor, many other people thought the stories from England were over the top and blasted the publications.
A reader named Jack wrote in the comments to the story: “Clickbait article. Shooting was 5 miles away at 4am. Like saying a shooting in South Bronx was near the Met Gala in Manhattan (in fact that would be closer).”
“KC native here - Silly article,” a man named Justin shared. “A shooting near Troost at 4 am is a common occurrence and has nothing to do with the English national team. England’s hotel is in a very nice, safe area of KC.”
On X, a fan took a playful jab: “Both shootings took place 5+ miles away from their training grounds, your tea and crumpets are safe.”
An England fan shared a map that showed it would take 90 minutes to walk between the Swope incident and the base camp.
“The shooting was 4 miles away in the actual City. England’s camp is in the outskirts,” he wrote. “This is a complete non-story from an England point of view.”
Another shared this: “This is terrible reporting. A) Troost is FAR away from Prairie Village where the players are staying and B) shootings happen regularly in that neighborhood.”
“As someone who lives in Kansas maybe 2 miles from where the England team is staying,” a person wrote, “this is nowhere near where this shooting happened.”
This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 7:43 AM with the headline "UK media blasted for linking KC shooting to England’s World Cup training site."
