*This content was translated by AI.
The England national football team will bring its own custom-made bedding to its U.S. base camp accommodation for the 2026 North American World Cup. This comes after harsh criticism that the hotel beds were too hard and the soundproofing was inadequate.
Britain's The Sun reported on the 18th (Korean time) that the England national team, led by manager Thomas Tuchel, plans to bring its own bedding to the "In at Meadowbrook" hotel near Kansas City to ensure the players' perfect sleep.
According to Match, the Football Association of England is collaborating with sleep experts from the UK Sports Institute to replace all of the hotel's existing bedding.
The squad, including captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, will be provided with soft mattress toppers and special gel cooling pillows tailored to their individual body types, weights, and sleeping positions. Ergonomic eye masks and earplugs that completely block out light and external noise are also included in the "sleep kit."
The media stated, "The purpose is to regulate body temperature in the hot and humid climate and aid restful sleep after late-night matches." It added, "To reduce the sense of environmental alienation, the association has encouraged players to bring blankets they use at home. The association also plans to place family photos of the players in their rooms."
The England national team has booked all 54 rooms at the hotel for the duration of the World Cup. The rate is around 260 pounds (approximately 520,000 won) per night. However, online accommodation review sites such as Google are flooded with complaints from guests. One guest rated the pillows as "flat" and the beds as "as hard as stone," while another harshly criticized the hotel, stating, "I had to visit a chiropractor after sleeping here."
Noise issues are also serious. In 2024, a visitor pointed out that "soundproofing is so poor that you can hear everything from the room next door." When complaints about inter-floor noise were raised in 2022, the hotel explained that it was "designed to exceed industry standards," but guest reviews criticizing the poor wall soundproofing continued the following year.
The media reported that "England national team sleep expert Dr. Luke Gupta has developed a customized sleep schedule to cope with adverse conditions such as late-night kickoffs and heat."
He advised, "There is no need to worry if you cannot fall asleep due to the surge of adrenaline after a late-night match. You should take a 'recovery nap' of up to about one hour during the day." Former England sleep coach Nick Littlehales also emphasized, "Modern football is decided by fine margins. If Harry Kane sleeps better with his comfort doll, then that should be provided as well."
Managing the sleep environment for the England national team is not a first-time effort. During the 2018 Russia World Cup, when the phenomenon of white nights occurred, blackout blinds were installed at the St. Petersburg accommodation. During the 2024 Euro tournament in Germany, where they finished as runners-up, they actively utilized custom bedding and sleep aids.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
