England's national football team will arrive in the United States next week for the 2026 World Cup, camping in Kansas tornado alley during the height of severe weather season. According to the third-party report, the squad has been briefed on safety drills and will use a hotel basement shelter if needed. At the same time, U.S. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) has escalated a fight against FIFA over ticket pricing, calling its practices a "shakedown" and urging FIFA President Gianni Infantino to testify before Congress.

40 tornadoes a year and a hotel basement shelter

The four-star Inn at Meadowbrook in Prairie Village, Kansas,will house the England team from June 13 onward, a period that coincides with the region's peak tornado season, as the source reports. Kansas averages 40 tornadoes annually — second only to Texas — and the vast majority occur in June. At least three tornadoes have already touched down in the area this year, meteorologists noted. Players have been told to identify the nearest shelter in the hotel basement and, in case of a sudden twister, to stay away from windows and duck and cover under a bed or table.

The decision places the squad in a corridor known historically for violent storms, echoing precautions taken by other international teams during the 2026 World Cup, which spans multiple host cities across North America. The report says the local community has embraced the visitors, with "Go England" signs appearing around the hotel, which overlooks a lake and gated housing complex. Actor Jason Sudeikis, a Kansas City native and star of Ted Lasso, is likely to visit the team during downtime between matches.

69-member letter, no response: Congresswoman's demand for Infantino testimony

Off the pitch, a political storm is brewing. Representative Kamlager-Dove, whose district includes Los Angeles — a host city — has accused FIFA of price gouging through dynamic ticket pricing. According to the third-party report, she described the pricing as a "total shakedown" and compared FIFA's conduct to something out of The Godfather movies. In March, she led a letter signed by 69 members of Congress urging FIFA to correct its practices, but the organization did not respond.

In an exclusive interview, Kamlager-Dove said she supports investigations by prosecutors in New York and New Jersey into FIFA's ticketing policies. She called on Infantino to testify before Congress and explain himself, stating that the focus should be on fans, not on Infantino. She also urged President Donald Trump to intervene , noting that desptie Trump's friendly relationship with Infantino — FIFA awarded Trump its first Peace Prize — the priority must be affordability and stopping what she called the "FIFA shakedown." Critics have pointed out that the Peace Prize award appeared to curry favor with the White House, a dynamic Kamlager-Dove acknowledged she was not surprised by.

What remains unclear is whether the bipartisan pressure will translate into a formal congressional subpoena or any action from the Justice Department. The report does not indicate whether FIFA has responded to the letter or engaged with the congresswoman's requests. Additionally, the exact ticket prices that sparked the outcry are not specified in the source,leaving a gap in the public's understanding of the alleged gouging.

From Ted Lasso to Meat Mitch: Local embrace of the England squad

Away from the controversies, the squad will have opportunities to experience local culture. The report says the team will attend a Kansas City Royals baseball game and visit Meat Mitch, a nearby award-winning barbecue restaurant known for its in-house smoking and brisket sauces, including one called Naked Sauce.. A staff member expressed excitement about welcoming the team . England's first match is against Croatia on June 17 in Dallas, a 90-minute flight from Kansas City. The combination of a warm local welcome, celebrity visits, and familiar sporting activities may help the squad focus amid the dual threats of tornadoes and a ticket scandal back in Washington.