England’s World Cup preparations have taken an unexpected turn — with the Three Lions set to bring their own bedding to the United States after complaints that their Kansas base hotel has “rock-hard” beds, flat pillows and walls so thin guests claimed they could hear everything next door.
The FA is reportedly arranging bespoke mattress toppers, pillows and other sleep aids for Thomas Tuchel’s squad as England attempt to squeeze every possible performance advantage out of their World Cup campaign.
The team will be based at The Inn at Meadowbrook, near Kansas City, a boutique hotel where rooms are said to cost around £260 a night. But despite its luxury image, some past guests have been far from impressed with the sleeping conditions.
One reviewer, Casey Arens, complained earlier this year: “The pillows are flat and terrible, as hard as rocks.”
Another guest, Elizabeth McLenon, wrote that “a luxurious hotel has a bed that feels like a cloud,” before adding: “The bed at The Inn was as hard as a rock. I had to schedule a chiropractic appointment after sleeping in it.”
There have also been complaints about noise. In one 2024 review, Frank Banfield claimed he had been kept awake by the sound of a couple in the next room, writing: “We heard the ‘enjoyable activities’ of a couple in the next room. The property lacks acoustic considerations.”
Another guest, Lori W, previously warned: “The floors are so thin you will hear people walking in the room above you. We got no sleep.”
Hotel bosses apologised in response to one complaint, saying: “No amount of soundproofing can stop noise, though ours was designed well above the industry standard. We’re sorry that you lost sleep.”
Now England are taking no chances.
Sleep scientists working with the FA and the UK Sports Institute are said to be helping prepare the squad’s rooms, removing standard hotel bedding and replacing it with tailored sleep kits designed for elite athletes.
The players, including captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, are expected to use soft bespoke mattress toppers, special gel cooling pillows, contoured eye masks and earplugs to block out noise and light.
The bedding will reportedly be adapted to each player’s body type, weight and sleeping position, while players may also be encouraged to bring their own blankets from home to recreate a familiar sleeping environment.
The finishing touches could even include framed pictures of loved ones in their rooms, helping the players feel more settled during a high-pressure tournament played across the US, Mexico and Canada.
Tuchel’s squad will face not only tough opponents, but also late kick-offs, long recovery windows and intense heat and humidity. England begin their campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17.
Dr Luke Gupta, a leading sleep scientist and performance consultant with the UK Sports Institute, has been advising the team. He said: “Some players new to the squad might be unfamiliar with the late-night kick-off, versus those who are more experienced and can just go with it.
“We try to take the edge off things, together as a team, to create a schedule that allows for what I call ‘recovery sleep’.”
Former England sleep coach Nick Littlehales said modern football is now obsessed with small margins, adding: “These days everything in football is about maximising performance margins and sleep is a very important factor.
“If Harry Kane sleeps better on a special mattress or pillow, or wants his favourite teddy bear, that’s what he’ll get.”
England have used similar sleep-focused tactics before. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, blackout blinds were installed to deal with the near 24-hour daylight in St Petersburg, while bespoke bedding and sleep aids were also used during Euro 2024 in Germany.
An FA spokesman said: “We wouldn’t be looking to issue any comment or guidance on private arrangements for our playing squad.”
For Tuchel and his players, however, the message is clear: if England are to dream of World Cup glory, they first need to sleep properly.
