The England team implemented strict measures to control the presence and contact of WAGs (the term for wives and girlfriends of athletes) during the group stage of the World Cup. Maintaining their training center in Kansas City, the players are separated from their partners and families by a distance of more than 2 thousand kilometers, with the latter concentrated in the city of Miami.
Miami is located exactly 2,253 kilometers from the English team’s base. Even before the start of the World Cup, family members were informed that they would only be allowed to meet the players immediately after the matches, according to reports in several British newspapers.
The publications highlight that the profile of athletes’ current wives and girlfriends differs significantly from the generation of icons such as David Beckham and Wayne Rooney. They are more discreet, and most chose to stay in Miami in order to be close to amusement parks for children.
Furthermore, according to information from the English press, only half of the players’ families traveled to the United States to accompany the England delegation. The complexity of transport logistics and the limited time spent interacting with the athletes were determining factors for many people to withdraw.
Coach Tomas Tuchel did not authorize players to stay overnight with their families during the World Cup. The English team faces an intense schedule, with five matches in a period of 17 days until the round of 16, which means little time for rest. Before the tournament, the athletes were able to spend time with their families in West Palm Beach, north of Miami, where the team stayed at a training center.
The historical experience that shaped current restrictions
The English team has a history of caution with the presence of wives in training camp and during preparations for the World Cup. The main reason goes back to the 2006 World Cup, held in Germany, specifically in the city of Baden-Baden, where the team experienced a “circus” that affected their performance on the field.
That year, the athletes’ wives were staying just a few minutes from the English concentration. At the time, British newspapers described a scenario of intense paparazzi pursuit of teammates and players, with records of disagreements in bars and exorbitant expenses, diverting the focus from football.
Former national team defender Rio Ferdinand described the situation at that time as a “big circus”. He stated that football had almost become secondary to the main event, with people more concerned with what their wives wore and where their wives went than with the English team’s performance.
During the Qatar Cup, then coach Gareth Southgate had also imposed limitations on the presence of wives. However, he allowed contact with players to occur one day after the matches, a rule slightly more lenient than the current one.
Origin and expansion of the term WAGs in sport
The term WAGs, which means “wives and girlfriends” in English, had its origins in the 2000s, popularized by British tabloids to refer to the companions of great football stars. Victoria Beckham, former member of the Spice Girls and wife of David Beckham, was one of the first and most iconic “WAGs” to attract the attention of the sports media.
The expression gained even more notoriety in American sports leagues, being adopted by both fans and women themselves. In the United States, WAGs often cultivate their own traditions, such as wearing matching outfits to important matches, and standing out at sporting events.
Currently, with three points in the group stage, England will have a brief rest period. The team’s next challenge will be on June 23, when they will face Ghana at 5 pm (Brasília time), in Boston, in the United States.