England’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup received an unexpected shake on Monday after a powerful earthquake off the coast of Cuba sent tremors across Florida, including Orlando where the team is based.
The United States Geological Survey said the earthquake measured 6.1 magnitude and struck in waters west of Cuba at a depth of about 10 kilometres. The tremor was felt hundreds of miles away across Florida, with reports coming from Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville. Authorities said there was no tsunami threat and no immediate reports of deaths or major damage.
The earthquake struck just days after England arrived in Orlando to continue preparations for their World Cup campaign. While there were no reports of disruption at the team’s training base, residents across central Florida described buildings swaying and furniture shaking as the tremors passed through the state.
Officials in Miami evacuated several buildings as a precaution, including government offices, while some public transport services were temporarily suspended for safety checks. Similar reports of shaking emerged from office towers, hotels and residential buildings across the region.
The quake was initially estimated at 6.4 magnitude before seismologists revised it to 6.1. Experts said aftershocks are possible in the coming days. The National Weather Service confirmed that shaking was felt across large parts of Florida but stressed that no tsunami warning had been issued.
Earthquakes strong enough to be felt across Florida are relatively rare. The latest event was linked to seismic activity near Cuba, a region that has experienced significant earthquakes in the past, including a powerful 7.7 magnitude quake in 2020 that affected Cuba and the Cayman Islands.
