Team bonding in Florida
England players recently organised a team-bonding dinner in Miami, following a period of intense training in Florida. This gathering provided an opportunity for the squad to relax before their departure for Kansas City, where they will be based for the final stages of the World Cup 2026. The team has been at their West Palm Beach base since June 1, undergoing rigorous training sessions in preparation for the hot and humid conditions anticipated during the tournament, which will be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel granted the players some time off from their demanding pre-tournament training camp. This break followed a behind-closed-doors match against local side Miami United on Thursday, which England won. Earlier, on Wednesday, England had defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in their final warm-up game in Orlando before returning to West Palm Beach. Tuchel has reportedly aimed to cultivate a relaxed atmosphere within the camp, though he expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s performance during a 1-0 victory over New Zealand.
During their time in Florida, players have engaged in rounds of golf after training. They were joined on the course by American five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka, and European Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter also visited the camp after the Costa Rica game. Families have been permitted to join the camp, and players have generally had personal time after their training sessions. However, it is understood that not all players attended the organised dinner in Miami, with some opting to remain in West Palm Beach.
Family support and evolving WAGs culture
The presence of family members, often referred to as WAGs (wives and girlfriends), continues to be a significant aspect of the team’s support system. This term gained prominence during the 2006 World Cup. For the 2026 World Cup, a new generation of partners is supporting the England squad, many of whom possess diverse professional backgrounds, including nursing, interior design, and AI engineering.
Among the partners supporting the team is Kate Kane, wife of England captain Harry Kane. A sports science graduate, Kate married Harry in 2019, having known him since childhood. The couple has four children, with their youngest, Henry, born in 2023. Similarly, Megan Davison, wife of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, also shares a childhood connection with her husband. They married in 2020 and have three children, including Misty, born in 2025. Megan, a graduate of the University of Sunderland, shares aspects of her life on social media.
Bukayo Saka’s fiancée, Tolami Benson, is noted for her fashion sense and made her WAG debut during the 2024 Euros. She graduated from Birmingham University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Public Relations and Media. Arsenal star Bukayo proposed to Tolami in 2025. Ashlyn Castro, girlfriend of Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, is a social media personality from the USA. Mia McClenaghan, the long-term girlfriend of Chelsea defender Reece James, is a law graduate from London’s Royal Holloway University and a model, reportedly also an AI expert.
Midfielder Eberechi Eze is married to Naima Corbin, whom he met during their GCSE studies. They married in 2022 after Eze proposed in 2021. Naima, a nursing graduate from King’s College London, previously worked in intensive care. Striker Ollie Watkins married his wife, Ellie, in France in 2025. Ellie, an interior designer, often shares insights into her home life with the Aston Villa player. Marcus Rashford’s long-term girlfriend, Lucia Loi, holds a first-class degree in advertising and brand management and currently resides in Barcelona, where Marcus is on loan from Manchester United.
Preparations for Kansas City
The team is scheduled to fly to Kansas City on Saturday. Once they arrive, the focus on match preparation is expected to intensify, and time away from the team hotel will likely be more restricted. Under former manager Gareth Southgate, players were generally allowed to see their family members immediately after games and on the following day during major tournaments. This arrangement is expected to continue under Tuchel, but with a greater emphasis on maintaining focus for the upcoming matches.
The players were instructed by Tuchel to return to their base on Friday evening after the planned dinner in Miami, marking the end of their brief respite before the final leg of their journey to the World Cup 2026 base.
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Source: bbc.com
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