Police have launched an investigation after England's World Cup preparations were rocked by a theft of official tournament footballs and key training equipment. The incident occurred as the squad moved their training camp from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Swope Soccer Village in Missouri.
Equipment Stolen in Transit
According to reports, the stolen items include players' boots, official match balls, analysis kits, Thomas Tuchel's whiteboards, and massage tables. Staff were stunned when the equipment failed to arrive in Kansas City. Only one football was left untouched in the heist.
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft, and a police inquiry is ongoing. The Football Association has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
Impact on Preparations
England are due to train in Kansas City for the first time later today, and staff are racing against the clock to source replacement equipment. The theft is a significant setback for Thomas Tuchel's squad, who had enjoyed a successful pre-tournament camp in Miami, including a 3-0 win over Costa Rica and a 6-0 thrashing of Miami FC in a closed-door friendly.
Tuchel had praised the team's preparation in Florida, saying: "We get some minutes into the legs – game minutes, not training minutes – for the three players who didn't play. We can manage the game time. Then the players get one and a half days off, not only physically but also mentally to switch off. Then we start the next chunk of the tournament, which is the group stage, and we change location."
Unverified Claims
There are unverified claims that the boots of star players Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham were among the stolen items. The FA is collaborating with local police to retrieve the stolen goods.
England will be based at Swope Soccer Village for the next three weeks as they aim to progress from the group stage, starting with their opening match against Croatia next week.
