World Cup: England forward learns quick lesson about Kansas City sports culture
By Nick Sloan
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — England forward Ollie Watkins has learned one thing during his first week in Kansas City: Be careful which NFL jersey you wear.
Speaking with reporters Sunday, Watkins spoke on the hospitality he has experienced in the metro but admitted he made a football fashion mistake shortly after arriving.
“I wore a Dallas Cowboys jersey into Kansas the other day, and I was with my family, and a guy said to me, ‘You can’t wear that around here,'” Watkins said. “So yeah, I won’t be wearing that again.”
England has been based in the Kansas City area since arriving for the World Cup.
The team trains at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri, and stays at the Inn at Meadowbrook in Prairie Village, Kansas.
Watkins said he doesn’t know much about the NFL, but Kansas City has made a strong impression on him.
“The hospitality has been amazing, and I felt like everyone’s so friendly over here,” Watkins said.
The England star also said there is one local tradition still on his to-do list.
“I need to check out, I think, Joe’s Bar-B-Que as well, I think, at some point,” Watkins said.
England opened World Cup play with a victory over Croatia and continues preparing for its next group-stage match.
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