UMVA has learned that the England squad, preparing for their World Cup campaign, has been hit with a severe thunderstorm warning in Kansas, where unpredictable weather is a norm.
The warning, issued on Saturday night, alerted people in the area to 'destructive' winds and the potential for 'deadly' flying debris, prompting an 'imminent threat alert' to be sent out, urging those in the area to take shelter away from windows.
The England team, which arrived in Kansas City on Saturday, had trained in the afternoon without incident, but the weather warning was issued shortly after, causing concern for the team's safety and the disruption of their preparations.
A tornado siren was sounded, and a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect until 9:00 pm CDT, with the National Weather Service warning of 80 mph winds and the potential for flying debris to be deadly to those caught without shelter.
The severe weather led to power outages in Kansas City and wider Missouri, and a fan festival scheduled for the area was closed early as a precautionary measure, with organizers prioritizing the safety of the public, staff, volunteers, and entertainers.
Although the threat of a tornado eased, the danger did not entirely pass, with the National Weather Service reporting that gusty winds were still possible, and a Tornado Watch remaining in effect until 11 pm for west central Missouri.
This latest disruption comes on the heels of England's preparation being hit by a storm in Orlando, which delayed their friendly against Costa Rica, and the theft of training kit from a van, which was later recovered, with two people arrested in connection with the incident.
Despite the challenges, England's goalkeeper Dean Henderson seemed unfazed by the theft, saying that all the team's gear was recovered, and 'nobody's bothered'.
