England are to base themselves at a £197-a-night boutique hotel as they seek to end their World Cup drought.
Thomas Tuchel and his squad will shun the bright lights of big cities such as New York and Miami and make Kansas City their home for the tournament, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
And sources in the US have disclosed to Daily Mail Sport that Tuchel, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham – should he make it – will head for a parkside inn on the outskirts of the Missouri city which describes itself as being in the style of ‘an English Cottage’.
The Three Lions have blocked out bookings at The Inn at Meadowbrook, a boutique facility on the grounds of a former country club which can come in at less than £200 per one-night stay.
With 54 rooms, the hotel offers ‘contemporary charm’, according to its website, and features an outdoor pool and hot tub.
However, there is no longer a golf course, which may disappoint the likes of Kane, who is said to play off three. There are a host of championship courses within driving distance.
Prices in Kansas City tend to be lower than in major coastal centres and the hotel has a sterling reputation, boasting a 4.9 rating out of five on the TripAdvisor website, with guests hailing its luxurious touches. One solitary visitor delivered a one-star rating, complaining that there was no reading light in their superior room.
England will play their group matches in Dallas, New York and Boston and have chosen Kansas City thanks to its relatively central location. However, the Netherlands and Argentina will also be based in the Midwest city and were given a higher priority by FIFA when it came to the allocation of facilities as they are both playing matches in the area.
England decided to find a base rather than city-hop after consulting with senior players. FA officials will now set about making the hotel a home from home with a series of personalised touches. At previous tournaments, pictures of loved ones and families have been placed into rooms while, as Daily Mail Sport revealed, a comforting scent has been pumped into public areas.
Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon may be interested to hear that the Inn has a series of trails and ‘Cruiser’ bikes to hire. The winger famously took a tumble while the England squad went for a bike ride at their hotel during the European Championship in Germany although the extra-wide tyres on Cruisers are designed to prevent any similar mishaps.
Tuchel himself may well be housed in the ‘Grand Suite’, which features dining for eight, a fireplace and a banquette that overlooks tiered lakes. The suite also features a soaking tub and powder room. While England have kept there plans close to their chest, in what is perhaps a telltale sign, rooms are unavailable to book at the hotel throughout the duration of the tournament.
Should players wish to have a heart-to-heart or dissect performances, the hotel features a firepit situated within a courtyard. There is also a 24-hour gym, which may be needed after a visit to the hotel’s restaurant. England will bring their own chefs, but in normal circumstances guests can head to American restaurant Verbena, which offers a number of tasty-looking, calorific desserts including fried apple pie, a banana croissant and bread pudding with rum caramel and a malted white chocolate mousse with candied pumpkin seed crumble, pumpkin bread crouton and pomegranate.
A well-stocked wine cellar includes a $950 Californian Red while, if England go all the way, they will find a $240 Rose champagne to toast their success.
Which rankings list ranks highest?
The publication of Deloitte’s Money League raised some eyebrows, not least because it placed Manchester United eighth in the list – their lowest ever position – and below the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. However, Old Trafford officials may well point to the recently-issued Forbes list, which claims they are the second-most valuable football club on the planet, behind only Real Madrid.
While Deloitte focus on revenue (with United’s recent numbers taking a hit thanks to under-performance on the field and a lack of Champions League football), Forbes concentrates more on the long-term value of the business.
Liverpool were the only other English team to make the top 50 although, perhaps interestingly, in Forbes’ list of the most profitable clubs United finish 11th with Tottenham Hotspur in 12th.
Everything's bigger in the USA
In attempting to justify the astronomical prices for World Cup tickets FIFA have quietly pointed out that different rules apply when it comes to the US market. A look at next weekend’s Super Bowl would appear to support that point.
The cheapest nosebleed seat to see the New England Patriots take on Seattle Seattle Seahawks comes in at close to £4,500 on resale sites. If you want one of the best views at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday night then you are looking at around £31,000 for a lower bowl seat which does not include any corporate hospitality.
Ooh la-la-laboratory
Paris Saint-Germain's assault on London is continuing with the arrival of what officials are calling ‘an experiential laboratory’ in Cavendish Square.The French giants opened a store on Oxford Street back in 2023 and will later this month unveil ‘La Maison’, which the club say will ‘deliver unique experiences at the crossroads of sport, culture and Parisian lifestyle’.
The offering will include a training room where visitors can take high-intensity workouts and yoga sessions, a café which offers ‘a curated coffee and patisserie experience’ and a Sneaker Lab. DJs and musicians will perform on the second floor while the third will feature a tasting room and private dining.