England dealt unusual World Cup obstacle involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal

England's World Cup preparations have been impacted by a FIFA regulation that is preventing Thomas Tuchel's squad from training on the same pitches earmarked for Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.The Three Lions are currently based at Gardens North County District Park in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where they are continuing their build-up to the tournament.However, despite using the same sprawling training complex as Portugal, England have been unable to access the pitches reserved for Ronaldo and his teammates.The reason lies in a FIFA regulation known as the Pitch Protection Period. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Under the rule, training facilities selected by participating nations must keep designated pitches untouched for the 28 days leading up to a team's arrival.Portugal are due to move into the venue within that protected timeframe, according to The Athletic, meaning the surfaces allocated to Roberto Martinez's side cannot be used by anyone else beforehand.As a result, England have been forced to train elsewhere within the complex.The arrangement was agreed well in advance and has not come as a surprise to the Football Association, which has spent months preparing for the team's stay in Florida.Gardens North County District Park spans 82 acres and contains 10 FIFA-compliant football pitches.The venue also hosted Real Madrid during last year's Club World Cup and is regarded as one of the premier football facilities in the region.England have secured access to two separate pitches at the site and have installed temporary gym facilities as part of their World Cup base.Portugal, meanwhile, are still completing work on their own temporary infrastructure before the arrival of Ronaldo and the rest of the squad.LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Graeme Souness bemoans state of modern football as England star called outFerrari boss Fred Vasseur rushed to hospital ahead of Monaco Grand PrixGareth Southgate lands new role before England begin World Cup campaignThe Football Association also moved early to ensure England's pitches would be in top condition.Grounds staff were reportedly sent to Florida as far back as January to begin preparing the playing surfaces ahead of the squad's arrival on June 1.The effort appears to have paid off.According to local reports, Tuchel was highly impressed by the standard of the facilities when he first inspected them.Gary Walker, chief executive of Palm Beach County Soccer Academy, revealed the England manager was stunned to discover the pitches were publicly owned.We walked around and he couldn't believe that these fields were for public use, not private use, Walker told CBS 12 News.He said, 'This is unbelievable.'The training complex is one of many facilities being used by World Cup teams across North America.As part of FIFA's arrangements, venues selected by national teams receive financial compensation once tournament preparations reach a certain stage.Facilities can earn up to 15,000 per day, although those payments only begin five days before a team's opening match and continue throughout the group stage.The protected period itself does not generate compensation, meaning venues are effectively required to keep designated pitches unused for weeks without receiving additional payment.England arrived in Florida earlier this week to acclimatise to the intense heat and humidity expected during the tournament.Tuchel's side will face New Zealand and Costa Rica in warm-up matches before beginning their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17.Further group stage matches with Ghana and Panama then lie in wait. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter