England’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been thrown into chaos after the team’s training equipment was stolen ahead of their opening match against Croatia.
According to news first reported by the Daily Mail, the Football Association (FA) is working with local police after vehicles transporting England’s kit from their pre-tournament camp in West Palm Beach, Florida, to their official base at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City were broken into.
Among the missing items are believed to be players’ match boots, training gear, official tournament footballs, coaching equipment, uniforms, analysis tools, massage tables and other essential items used by manager Thomas Tuchel and his backroom staff.
The theft occurred as the equipment was being transported to Missouri, where England will be based for at least the next three weeks during their World Cup campaign.
The squad was scheduled to begin preparations at their Kansas City training base on Saturday afternoon, but staff were forced to assess what remained available and what needed to be replaced.
Sources indicate that only one football was left among the cargo that survived the robbery, with fears that boots belonging to some of England’s biggest stars, including captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham, may have been taken.
The incident has raised concerns over potential disruption to Tuchel’s carefully planned preparations ahead of England’s World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday night at 11 pm EAT.
Police officers were called to the scene on Friday evening and are working closely with the FA to investigate the incident.
Two arrests have reportedly been made in connection with the theft, while authorities continue efforts to recover the stolen equipment.
Security officials are also investigating how the robbery occurred, with suspicion reportedly falling on individuals involved in the transportation of the team’s equipment.
