Tuchel's Royal Pitch
England Manager Thomas Tuchel Trades Soccer for Baseball, Throws First Pitch for Kansas City Royals
Key Points
Harry Kane said Tuchel’s pitch was difficult and noted it was “the first time I’ve been up mound in 12 years,” adding: “He got a strike… that was the first time I’ve been up mound in 12 years, so you forget how far away it actually is… He was a little nervous before.”
The Athletic’s baseball desk described Tuchel’s delivery step-by-step: he “rocked himself into an abbreviated windup,” then “operated from the stretch,” using “a short leg kick to help deliver the ball,” and threw from his right side toward home plate to deliver a strike at the corner.
England’s 5-1 behind-closed-doors friendly (vs an MLS side) was played at the team’s facility area, with the report saying it took place at “Swope Soccer Village training facility,” and that the match consisted of “two halves lasting around 25 minutes each.”
BBC Sport reported the Football Association arranged the friendly to give certain players minutes, and the same report said players were allowed to see family and friends after the Croatia group match—“Loved ones were allowed into camp on Thursday”—before preparations for the next match against Ghana in Boston at “21:00 BST.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel swapped the soccer pitch for a baseball diamond on Thursday, throwing the ceremonial first pitch at Kauffman Stadium for the Kansas City Royals Sky Sports. The appearance came just 24 hours after England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opening 2026 World Cup group stage match Daily Mail.
Tuchel was joined by England captain Harry Kane and defenders Dan Burn and Djed Spence. He threw his pitch to Royals manager Matt Quatraro — and, according to Kane, got a strike LBC.
Kane Confirms Tuchel's Strike at the Corner
Harry Kane did most of the talking after the event. "He got a strike," Kane said. "That was the first time I've been up [on the] mound in 12 years, so you forget how far away it actually is." He added that Tuchel "was a little nervous before" Yahoo Sports.
The Athletic broke down Tuchel's delivery like a scouting report. He "rocked himself into an abbreviated windup," then "operated from the stretch." He used "a short leg kick" to generate momentum and threw from his right side. The ball crossed the corner for a strike. The pitching mound sits 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate — a distance Kane said is easy to forget.
Ivan Toney Scores Hat-Trick in Secret 5-1 Friendly
While Tuchel was at the ballpark, other England players were busy on the soccer field. The Football Association arranged a behind-closed-doors friendly at Swope Soccer Village training facility in Kansas City Daily Mail. England beat an MLS side 5-1.
Ivan Toney led the way with a hat-trick. Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins each added one goal. The match was short — two halves of around 25 minutes each BBC Sport. It gave fringe players a chance to build fitness and put pressure on Tuchel ahead of the Ghana match.
FA Opens Camp to Families After Croatia Win
Thursday was designed as a full recovery day for the squad. BBC Sport reported that the Football Association allowed players' loved ones into camp. Kane described the ballpark trip as part of the "recovery day" and even said he was keen to try batting.
The family access window and the baseball outing both reflect Tuchel's approach to managing players between high-intensity matches. Keeping spirits high mid-tournament is rare in major championships, where coaches usually keep squads in a tight "fortress" environment Real News Magazine.
England Head to Boston Next to Face Ghana
England now shift focus to their second group stage match. They face Ghana at Gillette Stadium in Boston, with kickoff set for 21:00 BST BBC Sport. The 5-1 friendly win showed the squad's depth is sharp. Toney's hat-trick in particular gives Tuchel a real selection headache up front.
England sit on 3 points after one game with a +2 goal difference Sky Sports. A win over Ghana would all but secure a place in the knockout rounds. The team must now travel from the humid Midwest to the New England coast — with very little time to settle in before kickoff.
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