England’s preparations for the World Cup took an unexpected hit as their training equipment was stolen just before the squad’s arrival at their new base in Kansas City on Saturday. The theft reportedly involved essential items such as balls and boots, which were taken after vehicles transporting the gear to the Swope Soccer Village were broken into.
The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department confirmed that an investigation is underway. “We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening,” the police stated, emphasizing that the inquiry is ongoing. The BBC also reported that two arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Impact on England’s World Cup Camp
Following their relocation from Florida, Thomas Tuchel’s squad was scheduled to hold their first training session at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday at 5:00 pm local time (2200 GMT). This disruption comes at a critical moment as England prepares to kick off their World Cup group stage campaign.
The team is set to face Croatia in their opening Group L fixture on Wednesday, before matches against Ghana and Panama follow. Despite the setback, England’s focus remains on their World Cup objectives as they settle into their new training environment.