The second day of the 2026 World Cup saw hosts Canada and the USA kick off their campaigns, but a theft of England's equipment has stolen the headlines. Thomas Tuchel's preparations for Croatia have been impacted by a heist that saw players' boots and crucial training gear reportedly stolen in transit.
England Victim of Theft
England have fallen victim to a bold World Cup theft ahead of their opening match against Croatia next week. The Three Lions relocated their training camp from West Palm Beach in Florida to the Swope Soccer Village base in Missouri, where the reported theft occurred. Tournament footballs and vital training equipment have been taken, with just one football left, leaving staff scrambling to replace the equipment immediately. England will call the Swope Soccer Village home for the next three weeks as they aim to progress from Group L, which also contains Croatia, Ghana and Panama. An investigation is currently underway to understand exactly what has been taken.
Katy Perry's American Opening Performance
The USA got their home World Cup campaign underway with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay, marking the first time the USMNT have scored four goals in one game in the tournament. Before the game, Katy Perry performed on the SoFi Stadium pitch in Los Angeles, California. However, many people online were left unimpressed by her silver dress, dubbed an "astronaut's costume," contrasting with Mexico's colourful opening ceremony and Canada welcoming Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette onto the pitch before their 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Fans Arrested for Assaulting Police
Two supporters attending Canada's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina were arrested 50 minutes before kick-off after allegedly assaulting police officers. Police state they were called to reports of a disturbance in the stands shortly after 2pm local time. Upon attending the incident, two officers were allegedly assaulted and sustained minor injuries. The two supporters have been charged with assaulting a police officer. No injuries were reported from the initial altercation in the stands.
VAR Used for Brand New Law
One of the brand new laws introduced for the World Cup was enforced in a landmark moment as VAR was used in the first mistaken identity protocol case. During USA's win over Paraguay, former Fulham defender Tim Ream was booked for a foul on ex-Newcastle forward Miguel Almiron, resulting in a dangerous free-kick. However, VAR intervened and referee Danny Makkelie was sent to the pitchside monitor. The footage showed Almiron had not been fouled; he'd taken three full strides after losing possession before throwing himself to the ground theatrically. Makkelie then brandished Almiron a yellow card for simulation and rescinded the booking shown to Ream, a brilliant way to crack down on diving.
