As England look to fine-tune things on the pitch, their off-field games are proving just as important for team spirit.
While group-stage attention has centred on Croatia, Ghana and Panama, downtime has been dominated by Wolf, SkyJo and Imposter.
Embracing these leisure games is helping to build bonds—something they believe could be vital to a long tournament run.
The squad are two weeks into life at their Kansas City base. They could be there another three if they reach the final, making off-pitch entertainment essential.
At past tournaments they’ve played Wolf, a game reminiscent of the BBC show The Traitors.
In the build-up to the Euro 2024 final against Spain, a Wolf session even prompted a message from Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman.
Wolf is back on the list this World Cup, with SkyJo and Imposter added to keep the squad amused when they’re not training under Thomas Tuchel and his staff.
Morgan Rogers told BBC Sport the players have become hooked on SkyJo—a numbers-based card game where low scores win—after Jude Bellingham brought it into camp.
“A few of us yesterday when we rode our bikes to a coffee shop, played cards,” Rogers said.
“Jude bought it, it’s a bit of a different one. I’ve never seen it before, but we’re addicted at the moment.”
The Aston Villa forward happily recounted a game with Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon and Elliot Anderson—especially since he won.
In SkyJo, players trade and collect cards until someone tops 100 points; the player with the lowest total prevails.
It’s all aimed at keeping the group in the right headspace for the serious pursuit of World Cup success.
England’s staff have added personal touches to rooms—like family photos—and ensured the squad can make the most of their non-football time in the USA.
For instance, Tuchel, along with captain Harry Kane, Djed Spence and defender Burn, visited Sporting KC, the baseball team based near their camp.
Kane and Burn have also taken in a country show by artist Ella Langley.
Tuchel is intent on fostering a club-style environment when the Three Lions assemble—and Brentford midfielder Henderson offered a glimpse of the bonding that happens on the way to training through games.
He said they’ve been playing a game called Imposter, where everyone receives a secret word via an app—except for one player. The challenge is to identify who’s in the dark.
Henderson is central to squad morale, with Rogers saying he and the former Liverpool midfielder have formed a tight-knit group with Bellingham.
“He’s looking after us while me and Jude are squabbling with each other,” Rogers said.
“We call him unc [uncle] at the moment, which he’s not happy about at all.”
Rogers is competing for the number 10 role Bellingham has filled for England so far at the tournament.
The pair have known each other since childhood, both having grown up in the West Midlands.
“I wish it wasn’t a rivalry, if I’m honest,” Rogers said when asked what it is like battling for a spot in the team with his friend.
“Yeah, we’re really close. We spend pretty much all the time together, in the free time and stuff.
“And it’s one of those things. I know we play in similar positions. I think we actually can play with each other.
“So I don’t think it’s necessarily me v him. I think yeah, we play in similar positions, but I thought he can also play in different positions, so can I.
“And if and when required, I think we can do that to the best of our ability. So we’ll see how the tournament keeps progressing and developing.”