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England’s preparations for the World Cup have been disrupted following the theft of equipment ahead of the squad’s arrival at their Kansas City training base.
According to reports, items including balls and boots were stolen after vehicles transporting England’s training gear to Swope Soccer Village were broken into. The incident is understood to have taken place before the squad’s scheduled arrival on Saturday.
The Football Association confirmed the development to Britain’s Press Association, stating that an incident had occurred, but added it could not provide further details as the matter was now under police investigation.
Law enforcement in the United States has since opened an inquiry.
“We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening. The investigation is ongoing,” the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department said.
While authorities continue to assess the situation, the BBC reported that two arrests have already been made in connection with the incident, although details remain limited.
Despite the disruption, Thomas Tuchel’s England squad is expected to continue with its planned schedule. The team is due to hold its first training session at Swope Soccer Village at 5:00 pm local time (2200 GMT) on Saturday, following their transfer from a pre-tournament camp in Florida.
England’s preparations are now under heightened scrutiny as they fine-tune their build-up to the tournament. The team opens its World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, before facing Ghana and Panama in Group L.
The incident adds an unexpected logistical challenge to England’s final days of preparation, with focus now shifting between security concerns and on-pitch readiness as the squad approaches its opening fixture.
