England are pulling out all the stops to handle the intense heat at their World Cup training base in Kansas City, Missouri — with manager Thomas Tuchel leading the way in a specialist sun-protection hoodie during Saturday's session at Swope Soccer Village.

While players including Declan Rice trained in vest tops under the blazing sun, Tuchel wore a cap and a sun-filtering hoodie with the hood pulled up. He was joined by assistants Anthony Barry, Nicolas Mayer, and Justin Cochrane, all sporting the same high-tech tops designed to block UV rays and keep the body cool and dry.

Extensive preparation for the heat

The Football Association conducted thorough research into the conditions England would face at the tournament. Tuchel himself was part of a delegation that attended the Club World Cup in the United States last summer, using the trip to plan ahead for exactly these challenges.

Beyond the hoodies, England's players are also deploying palm-cooling devices — a technology backed by studies showing that at least a third of World Cup matches will be played in temperatures exceeding 26°C. Some players are additionally using cooling vests to manage their body temperature during and after sessions.

Saka managing an Achilles issue

One notable absentee from Saturday's outdoor session was Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal winger followed an individual programme indoors as he manages an Achilles problem, and Tuchel has indicated the 23-year-old is unlikely to start before England's final Group L fixture against Panama in New Jersey on Saturday, 27 June (22:00 BST).

England's next assignment is a group stage clash against Ghana on Tuesday (21:00 BST), with the squad pushing hard through their preparations despite the demanding conditions.

Saturday's training session was watched by players and staff from Major League Baseball sides the Kansas City Royals and the St Louis Cardinals, who had faced each other the previous evening.