The little corner of Kansas that's obsessed with their English World Cup guests: Sleepy midwest suburb stocks up on Marmite, Hobnobs and 'proper British pies'

By RORY TINGLE, HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT and NICK PISA, SENIOR REPORTER Published: 11:20, 12 June 2026 | Updated: 11:22, 12 June 2026 World Cup fever is gripping a quiet American suburb hosting England's training base - with local streets covered in 'good luck' signs and shops stocking Marmite and Hobnobs. The Three Lions will arrive in Prairie Village outside Kansas City on Saturday and move into its single hotel - the 54-room, £260-a-night Inn at Meadowbrook.  Residents are preparing a big welcome, with St George's Crosses fluttering from local homes and cafes, watch parties scheduled for England games and flower beds planted with red and white blooms.  Any England fans staying nearby will be treated to a tempting array of local drinking spots, from a classic American dive bar to an Irish pub serving up fish and chips, toasties and pints of creamy Guinness.  England's hotel is already a hive of activity ahead of the team's arrival on Saturday with police on patrol and security barriers brought in – although there are plans for open training sessions. The area the England team are based in is an affluent suburb of Kansas City which some say still epitomises the 'American Dream' with its tree lined streets and 1940's and 1950's homes. There are several local artisan shops and among them is The Better Cheddar which stocks an impressive range of British products including Jaffa Cakes, Hobnobs, bottles of HP sauce, Bisto gravy and Branston pickle. Chris Thomas, 40, moved to America nearly 20 years ago and now runs a catering firm called Brit Boy Street Food with his wife Lizzie, 38, who has banned him from wearing bucket hats during the tournament. Manchester United fan Mr Thomas, who is originally from Selby, told the Daily Mail he was delighted that Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions had set up their base in Kansas City - and offered to send them some supplies. Chris Thomas, 40, moved to America nearly 20 years ago and now runs a catering firm in Kansas City called Brit Boy Street Food with his wife Lizzie, 38 Pat McCroy, 40, with English products in his shop The Better Cheddar in Kansas City English products including HP Sauce in The Better Cheddar, in Kansas City Jaffa Cakes and Hobnobs are also on the shelves of The Better Cheddar, in Kansas City The name Brit Boy comes from the way Lizzie saved Mr Thomas's number in her mobile - Brit Boy - when they met and the name has stuck. As their website proudly advertises, they sell 'proper British pies, pasties and sausage rolls' that leave you pining for the green and pleasant fields of England.  Mr Thomas said: 'If any of the boys are missing home and want a real sausage roll or shepherd's pie, I'm more than happy to deliver some on the house – it would be a great honour, but I know they probably have their own chefs. 'The pies are all meat and potatoes and follow the traditional recipe and those two staples are what make-up the traditional mid-West staple diet and they have gone down very well with ex pats and locals. 'It's funny when you think how much of a bad rap English food gets but we have been doing really well and I should thank my mum because she inspired me. 'The aim is to try and convince the locals to have pies and not pizzas and we are slowly working on them because as many England fans will find when they come to the US, it's not cheap out here.' England will be based at the Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, a short drive from the city centre and their Inn on Meadowbank hotel, which has seen security tightened with the team due to arrive on Saturday from Florida. Kansas City will also play host to the Argentina, Algeria and Netherlands squads with the first two kicking off the opening Group J match in the city's impressive Arrowhead stadium which holds 69,000. Black screen netting has gone up around the England hotel and crates of water and energy drinks were dropped off on Thursday and as part of the security measures coffee shops and a food store next-door have been closed off.  Perfectly manicured grass lawns at houses close to the Inn at Meadowbank have also had little St George's flags planted in them and banners hung from the balconies of nearby apartments.  Mr Thomas added: 'Argentina has a real state of the art training ground; the Compass Minerals National Performance Centre is one of the best in the country. 'I would say it tops the England one and the Algerians and Dutch also have good facilities but one thing for sure is that all the teams will get a really warm welcome all the locals are so friendly.' He added: 'There is quite a large expat group in Kansas City , and we meet up when we can, usually at a bar called the Friction Beer Company and we watch as many Premier League games as we can. 'There will be good crowd in for all the England games, but I won't be there as I have managed to get a ticket for the opening match against Croatia in Dallas. 'I paid $400 for it, which I think is a little steep but I'm sure it will be worth it, the ticket prices are ridiculous, FIFA have really priced out the genuine fans. The Inn at Meadowbrook Hotel in Prairie Village - complete with red and white floral displays  Expat England fans Sam Bannister, 41, from Pontefract; Chris Thomas, from Selby; and Dave Bingham, 53, in Kansas City Expat England fan Mark Adams, 62 from Liverpool who lives in Kansas City 'It's just crazy how much tickets are and it's a shame it won't be accessible to everyone as it will cost and arm and a leg to get in. 'I'm driving down to Dallas, with a friend and it will be eight hours in the car but that's nothing, we will take it in turns.' Mr Thomas is such a die-hard Manchester United fan that he even named his four dogs after Old Trafford legends – Fergie, Rio, Giggsy and Rooney – and he's hopeful current Red Devil Kobbie Mainoo will help get England to the quarter finals, and beyond. He said: 'I like what Tuchel has done with the squad, I know he wasn't everyone's cup of tea to begin with, especially with him being German but he's character building and he's no afraid to do what he thinks best. 'Mainoo is just unreal but with Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham I really do think we should be looking at the quarter finals and ultimately lifting the trophy in final. 'I know we say it every tournament but come on, it's been 60 years, it's time for us to have some glory and end all those years of hurt.' But there is one thing wife Lizzie draws the line at as she told the Daily Mail: 'I don't mind hi wearing him shirt, scarf, singing, even giving the dogs football players names, but I won't have him wearing a bucket hat, they look so silly.' Brand consultant Sam Bannister, 41, from Pontefract, will be with Mr Thomas in Dallas next week and said: 'It's great that England have chosen Kansas as their base and I'm looking forward to the match.' Mr Bannister – who was propping up the bar at Friction, which describes itself as a 'music-soaked beer experience' - added: 'I really will be disappointed if we don't get to the quarter finals at the very least. 'I think what will be a struggle will be the heat and humidity, but then they have been here a week now so should be getting acclimatised and other teams will also be affected by the conditions. 'I've lived here six years now and I like to keep fit and go our running but at times it really can be like breathing soup and it's a struggle to get air into your lungs, they just need to keep on top of that and keep hydrated.' Doncaster Rovers fan Mr Bannister added:' For me Harry Kane is the standout England player, he's a living legend and one of the best but I'd like to see Saka get a good run out as well, I'm just keeping everything crossed we make it to the final.' Also in the bar was Mark Adams, 62, originally from Liverpool and has been in Kansas for 30 years after, as he told the Daily Mail 'moving here for love'. Nursing a pint as he watched Mexico beat South Africa, Mr Adams, who is director of the Truman Presidential Library, and runs the Kansas City England Supporters Club, said: 'Wow! That was a good match to start with. Three red cards! 'Mexico looked good but I'm sure England can do better we just have to keep the momentum up, I thought they looked good in the two friendlies so far and I like Tuchel because he's brave and not afraid to make tough decisions. 'I know he's left Phil Foden and Cole Palmer at home, but he must have had a reason, and he's brought players who are fit and at the top of their game. 'Yes, I know the heat and humidity can be a problem but for the Dallas game, which I'm going to by the way, the roof will be closed so that should keep things bearable for the players and fans.' Mr Adams, who paid $800 for his ticket, added:' The prices are crazy and it's the usual FIFA politics of corruption and they are charging way too much but I'm hoping they will start to come down so I can get to another game. 'I hadn't planned to pay $800 but it's done now, so I just need England to at least get to the quarter finals, but I think if we avoid injuries – and penalties - and the players stay fit I don't see why we can't go all the way. 'We have a strong defence, we didn't concede a goal in the qualifiers, and we have quality players like with Harry Kane, Declan Rice and, it pains me to say it the Evertonian Anthony Gordon.' Expat Dave Bingham, 53, originally from Sutton Coldfield, told the Daily Mail: 'Kansas is a great sports city and they are really big on football here, they have some of the best facilities in the country. 'Besides England, Argentina, Algeria and the Netherlands are here so I think that says a lot for the city of Kansas and it will really put it on the map. 'It's a great place to live and raise a family, and I've been here for almost 30 years, it's a wonderful but to be fair I have to admit there are times when I do miss England and the atmosphere of a good pub, especially when the World Cup is on. 'This place will be good, but it won't be a patch on a traditional English pub back home where you bang your head on the beams and there is the smell of stale beer on the carpet.' Hotel owner Pat McCroy, 40, told the Daily Mail: 'We have quite a few British expat customers and they love the fact they can get hold of stuff they can get back home, as soon as I get the goods in they fly off the shelves. 'Marmite is really popular and at the moment I'm out of stock but I'm hopeful of getting some in soon, if any of the England team are missing their home food comforts, they are welcome to stop by here, I'm sure I will have what they are looking for.' Kansas is really getting in on the act – although few England fans are expected to base themselves in the city – but those looking to celebrate will be able to do so until 5am with bars being given late licenses. They could even bump into Harry Kane stocking up on snacks at one of the local grocery stores - which have shipped in British classics including Marmite, Hobnobs, HP Sauce, Bird's Custard, Lion Bars, Jelly Babies and Crunchies. While locals are laying out the red carpet, police are preparing a major security operation, including a no-fly zone around their hotel to thwart drone attacks and increased patrols to manage crowds.  England beat Costa Rica 3-0 in a friendly on Wednesday, while Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 yesterday in the first game of the tournament proper.  Among those eagerly anticipating the Three Lions' arrival is Englishwoman Annabel Drew, who came to Prairie Village to work at a summer camp - only to find herself right in the heart of the action.  The community is putting on a big welcome, with 'good luck England' signs lining the streets  Two of the signs along the route to the hotel   One local man popped around to the England hotel wearing a Preston shirt he picked up on a trip to England '30 years ago'  'I think it's kind of crazy that this ends up being my home base in a way,' she told local network 41 KSHB. 'Back home, everyone is so excited. They're like, I can't believe you're actually going to be near them.  'I know a lot of people are trying to come out as well, not even just to see the football, just to get the atmosphere. You know, it's a big thing.'  Asked for her recommendations to other England fans staying, she recommended enjoying a BBQ - adding that they were a 'big thing' in Kansas. Theresa, one of the 20,000 or so residents of Prairie Village, said there was 'big excitement' among local people. 'Coffee shops have flags up and there are signs in all the houses,' she told the BBC's Americast podcast. 'I went to a bar yesterday and I was asked ''are you here for the World Cup and oh my gosh the English are here''.  'In the shops they have Hobnobs and Marmite, there's HP Sauce and Bird's Custard. I bought a Lion Bar and a Crunchie, which is very exciting. So I've told all my friends to go down there! 'I bought some Jelly Babies and the chap at the shop asked if they were better than Jelly Beans. I said ''oh my gosh yes'' so he said he'd buy some. He asked if he should buy some Marmite and I said ''no''.' The England team will take over the entirety of The Inn at Meadowbrook, which will be ringed by heavy security.  Featuring an 'English cottage aesthetic', the hotel has 136 acres of grounds, two restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool and a 24-hour fitness centre.  Rooms include walk-in showers and balconies with lake views, while the largest - the Grand Suite - has a separate living room and a dining area with space for eight people. The England team will take over the entirety of The Inn at Meadowbrook, which describes itself as having an 'English cottage aesthetic'  The hotel has 136 acres of grounds, two restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool and a 24-hour fitness centre Thirsty England fans can visit several bars in the local area, including the Burg & Barrel  Just 14 minutes walk from the front door of the basecamp is The Bar Prairie Village. The boozer is known for its classic bar food ranging from loaded nachos to tangy chicken wings. It boasts a huge range of beers on tap - including Guinness - and plenty of cocktails to sip on during Happy Hour. Over the road, just a 15 minute walk from the hotel entrance is Conroy's Public House - a spot that prides itself on giving Americans an authentic Irish pub experience.  Finally, the Burg & Barrel in North Leawood is just a six minute taxi journey from the England camp. The sports bar opens its doors at 11am and closes at 10pm, with Happy Hour taking place between 2pm till 6pm. Captain Josh Putthoff, of Prairie Village Police Department, said officers have been receiving training to prepare for the anticipated 650,000 people visiting the Kansas City metro area.  'Even if those numbers are off a little bit more or less … we are expecting a big increase, an influx, in people,' he said. 'We know there's going to be a lot of people in the metro area, and that includes Prairie Village.' Despite its name, Prairie Village is actually a city in its own right. Captain Putthoff isn't sure how many England fans will be visiting his patch, but says a major security operation is already underway to protect their team.  'For any city right now that is hosting a team or planning any activities, you know, some of these teams and players are big on the world stage,' he said.  'So with that comes the risk of essentially bad actors, people who want to do bad things, and it's incumbent upon us as law enforcement to provide protection - not just for people entering our city but for people who live here.' The England team beat Costa Rica 3-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly yesterday   Security around the perimeter of The Inn will be the responsibility of Fifa and the US Department of Homeland Security, while the local police department will be stepping up patrols in the local area.  Officers will escort England's team coach between the hotel and the nearby Swope Soccer Village training ground.  Last Saturday, nine people were injured during a mass shooting at a nightclub four miles away from the hotel - an incident that was widely reported in UK media.  In response, Mayor of Kansas City Quinton Lucas took to X to distance the incident from the World Cup. He wrote: 'The shooting at an after hours club is a tragedy. It is also nowhere near England's or any country's training or lodging facilities. We are grateful there was no loss of life. We will hold the offenders and all in violation of the law accountable.'  No comments have so far been submitted. 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