FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — England manager Gareth Southgate is weighing up how much access players will have with their families at the World Cup amid his fears that COVID-19 could derail the team’s chances of success in Qatar.
Southgate says he is also concerned about the number of players that will be available to him by the time the tournament kicks off next month due to the intense physical demands of having a midseason World Cup.
He is currently in discussions with his squad over how to approach family access and limit the possibility of a coronavirus outbreak.
All teams will follow strict medical protocols to try to reduce the spread of coronavirus at the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 tournament. England was impacted by COVID-19 at the delayed European Championship in 2021 when Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were forced to isolate as a result of coming into contact with Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour.
Southgate is determined to avoid a repeat.