The BBC isn’t the only World Cup institution that stayed home. As England makes final preparations for their opening match against Croatia on Wednesday, only about half of Thomas Tuchel’s squad can expect to reunite with their families in Dallas. Many have chosen to skip the group stage.
FA sources say the smaller traveling party—much smaller than in Qatar four years ago, when most families stayed in Dubai or rented rooms on cruise ships near Doha—is due to complicated travel plans, the tournament’s long duration, and, for some extended families, the cost. More families are expected to travel to the US if England advances from Group H and reaches the later rounds, especially those with school-age children.
The advance group, which left shortly after the squad two weeks ago, has set up in Miami. They’ve been taking advantage of the players’ downtime during the extended training camp in nearby Palm Beach to spend time together on days off. Instead of moving all together to Kansas City, most have stayed in Florida to enjoy the sunshine and will fly in on matchdays to watch England’s group games in Kansas City, Boston, and New York.
Like his predecessor Gareth Southgate, Tuchel is expected to let players spend some time with their families in the stadium after matches before returning to their camp at Swope Soccer Village. But unlike Southgate, Tuchel won’t allow players to meet their families the day after games, as was the case in Qatar four years ago. That’s another reason they’ll head back to Florida.
Miami might be the party capital of the world, but early signs suggest there’s little risk of a repeat of the scenes that overshadowed England’s World Cup campaign in Germany 20 years ago. The quiet spa town of Baden-Baden became a paparazzi hotspot thanks to the antics of a particularly high-profile group of players’ partners, who unfairly came to define the “Wags” for nearly a decade.
Stories of their nights out at Garibaldi’s bar and extravagant shopping trips have become legendary—and some may even be true. Led by Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Cole, with a young Coleen Rooney along for the ride, many seemed to enjoy the attention. Bottles of Veuve Clicquot were reportedly drunk through straws, Beckham supposedly brought 60 pairs of sunglasses, and Frank Lampard’s then-girlfriend, Elen Rives, allegedly got into a shouting match with German fans after leading a sing-along while dancing on a table.
Many others in the group were also celebrities, including models Abbey Clancy, Alex Curran, and Carly Zucker. Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson’s then-partner, Nancy Dell’Olio, was hardly shy either.
In sharp contrast, most of their successors 20 years later wouldn’t draw such attention on Miami’s South Beach—and they seem to prefer it that way. Harry Kane’s wife, Katie Goodland, has kept a low profile throughout his career, and that’s generally true across the squad. Many of the partners also have successful careers of their own. Bukayo Saka’s girlfriend, Tolami Benson, works in advertising, and Arsenal teammate Eberechi Eze is married to intensive care nurse Naima Corbin. Elliot Anderson’s girlfriend works as a paralegal, while Reece James’s partner, Mia-Florence McClenaghan, just finished a law degree at Royal Holloway in London.
As a result, the England party might not even be the most high-profile group in Miami. FIFA has invited the heads of all 211 member associations to a two-day summit, and about 160 have accepted. While most are anonymous men in suits, figures like Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o can still turn heads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic Where have all the Wags gone England is enjoying the calm of their World Cup camp in Kansas City
General Beginner Questions
1 What does Wags mean
Wags stands for Wives and Girlfriends Its a term used by the media to describe the partners of professional football players
2 Why are people asking Where have all the Wags gone
People are asking this because in previous World Cups the partners of the England players were very visible often traveling to the tournament and being photographed This time they are noticeably absent from the media coverage
3 Are the Wags actually missing
No they arent lost The term is figurative It means the players partners are not joining the team in Kansas City or being featured in the news They are staying home or keeping a very low profile
4 Why is the England camp in Kansas City
The England team chose Kansas City as their base camp for the World Cup It offers a quiet private and focused environment away from the distractions of a host city
Benefits Strategy Questions
5 What is the benefit of having a calm camp without the Wags
The main benefit is focus Without the logistical and media circus that often follows the Wags the players can concentrate entirely on training tactics and recovery It creates a bubble of peace
6 Is this a new strategy for England
Yes its a deliberate change from previous tournaments The England manager and staff believe that a quieter more secluded environment leads to better performance and less burnout
7 Doesnt this hurt team morale
Not necessarily While some players might miss their families the team has created a very tightknit professional atmosphere The focus is on the squad as a unit which can boost morale in a different way
Common Problems Concerns
8 What if a player is feeling homesick or lonely
The team has support staff including psychologists and welfare officers Players are also allowed to have short video calls with their families The goal is to manage the emotional side without the distraction of a full family presence
9 Wont the players be distracted by their partners being at home
The camp is
