FA wants artist to paint England players at World Cup base 2026

Key Points

• The Football Association wants British artist Ben Mosley to paint personalised portraits of England players for the team’s World Cup base in Kansas City.
• The idea is part of efforts to make the squad feel at home during the tournament.
• Sources indicate each of Thomas Tuchel’s 26 players could receive an individual portrait, although the final order and design are still being settled.
• Mosley’s involvement has not yet been fully confirmed, with talks said to be ongoing.
• The Hertfordshire-born expressionist already works with Team GB, the British and Irish Lions and Barnsley.
• He has previously painted Queen Elizabeth II for her platinum jubilee.
• Mosley is known for live murals and was the first artist to paint one at the new Wembley Stadium.
• The FA has long used personal touches for major tournaments, continuing a tradition established under Sir Gareth Southgate.
• At World Cup 2018, England players’ rooms were personalised with family photos and mementos.
• At Euro 2020, a basketball hoop was placed in camp to help players relax and mix.
• At World Cup 2022, the FA used subtle branding and allowed families into camp on designated days.
• It is not known how much the FA may spend on the project.

England (Britain Today News) May 15, 2026 – The Football Association is understood to be preparing a highly personal artistic touch for England’s World Cup base by asking British painter Ben Mosley to create individual portraits of the players, in what would be the latest example of the governing body’s attempt to make tournament life feel as familiar and comfortable as possible. The plan, which sources say remains subject to final talks, would see Mosley produce customised artwork for members of Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad, potentially for display at the team hotel in Kansas City during the 2026 World Cup.

Why is the FA turning to art for England’s World Cup camp?

The FA’s intention is not merely decorative but practical, with the move designed to give England players a sense of routine and belonging while away from home. The approach follows a long-standing belief within the England set-up that a calmer, more personalised base can help reduce stress and support performance on the pitch. That philosophy was strongly associated with Sir Gareth Southgate’s tenure, during which tournament camps were carefully styled to feel less like temporary accommodation and more like an extension of players’ normal environment.

The latest idea reflects that same thinking in a new form. Rather than relying only on familiar amenities, the FA is said to want each player represented individually through portraiture, adding a personal identity to the camp. The move also shows how modern tournament preparation increasingly extends beyond tactics and training into psychology, comfort and atmosphere.

What exactly has the FA asked Ben Mosley to do?

Mosley has been asked to provide personalised portraits of the England team for their World Cup base, with the possibility that every player in the 26-man party will receive a separate work. The precise order and final design details have not yet been confirmed. Sources say the plan is still being discussed, and Mosley’s full involvement is not yet finalised.

The report states that the art could be placed at the squad’s base at The Inn at Meadowbrook team hotel in Kansas City. That would make the portraits part of the environment players see every day, rather than a one-off ceremonial gesture. The FA has not disclosed how much the project might cost, leaving the financial side of the initiative unclear.

Who is Ben Mosley?

Ben Mosley is a Hertfordshire-born expressionist artist with a growing profile in British sport and public life. He is already the official artist for Team GB, the British and Irish Lions and League One club Barnsley. His work has appeared in exhibitions, and he was commissioned to paint Queen Elizabeth II for her platinum jubilee, which added to his standing as a painter with national recognition.

Mosley is also known for large-scale mural work. The report says he was the first artist to paint a mural at the new Wembley Stadium, and he has created murals in front of live audiences, including at Team GB House during the Paris Olympics. According to his website, he uses 24-carat gold as a trademark element in his paintings, and his record sale stands at £100,000.

How does this fit England’s tournament tradition?

The England set-up has repeatedly looked for ways to soften the pressure of major tournaments. During World Cup 2018 in Russia, players’ rooms were personalised with family photos and mementos. That was followed at Euro 2020, where England spent much of the competition at St George’s Park and even had a basketball hoop installed in camp to encourage players to relax and socialise.

At World Cup 2022 in Qatar, the FA used subtle branding such as three lions frosting on doors and windows, while families were invited into camp on designated days to help reduce stress during the tournament. The current plan for Mosley’s portraits appears to continue that pattern, using visual and emotional cues to make the camp feel more welcoming.

The strategy reflects a modern understanding of elite sport. Players at the highest level often spend long periods away from home, under scrutiny and with little privacy. Small environmental details can therefore become part of a wider performance plan. In England’s case, the art may serve both symbolic and psychological purposes, turning the base into a space that reinforces identity, unity and continuity.

Why might the location in Kansas City matter?

Kansas City is expected to serve as England’s base during the 2026 tournament, and the use of a local team hotel makes the environment especially significant. A tournament camp is not just where players sleep; it is where they recover, eat, meet, train and spend the majority of their non-match time. By shaping that environment carefully, the FA is attempting to control as many external pressures as possible.

The reported choice of The Inn at Meadowbrook suggests the FA wants a setting that can be tailored to England’s needs. Adding personalised portraits would make the base feel more bespoke and would signal that the organisation is investing attention in the human side of tournament football. That can matter when players are being asked to perform under intense expectations.

What remains unresolved?

The biggest unresolved issue is whether the arrangement with Mosley will be completed. The report makes clear that talks are still ongoing, and no final announcement has been made. The exact number of portraits, their size, their style and their placement have also not been confirmed.

There is also no public information about the budget. That leaves open questions about whether the project is modest in scale or part of a broader hospitality and branding package for the tournament base. Even so, the direction of travel is clear: the FA appears determined to keep building a tournament environment that feels personal rather than clinical.
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What does this say about England under Thomas Tuchel?

The move suggests the England camp under Thomas Tuchel may continue to value cultural detail, emotional comfort and identity-building as part of its wider preparation. While Tuchel is known primarily for his tactical standards, the FA’s willingness to invest in the atmosphere around the squad indicates that off-pitch conditions remain a priority. The portraits, if delivered, would be one of the most visible examples of that thinking.

It also shows a continuity between eras. Although the manager has changed, the principle has not: England want their base to feel like home. In modern international football, where marginal gains can matter, the design of a hotel wall can be viewed as part of the same ecosystem as recovery, nutrition and training schedules.

Could this become a talking point beyond football?

Yes. Mosley’s involvement could draw attention because it blends sport, art and national identity in a way that goes beyond standard tournament preparation. Supporters may see it as a thoughtful gesture, while others may question whether such work is necessary. Either way, it is likely to attract interest precisely because it is unusual.

The proposal also highlights the increasingly broad role played by artists in public culture. Mosley’s portfolio already spans sport, monarchy and major live events, and England’s World Cup base would add another high-profile setting. For the FA, the value may lie not only in decoration but in the sense of care and recognition such work can create.

What is the FA planning for England’s World Cup base?

The FA is planning to bring personalised portraits by Ben Mosley into England’s World Cup camp as part of an effort to create a familiar and motivating environment. The portraits would sit within a wider tradition of carefully designed tournament bases meant to support player comfort and performance. If completed, the project would continue England’s recent habit of using personalised details to make major tournaments feel less anonymous and more like home.

Is Ben Mosley confirmed for the project?

No, not fully. The report says talks are ongoing, and the final order, design and scope have yet to be settled. His involvement remains expected rather than officially sealed, although the intention behind the plan is clear.