England hit by equipment theft days before World Cup opener

England's World Cup preparations suffered an unexpected setback four days before their first match at the 2026 tournament, after much of the squad's equipment was stolen during transport from Florida to Kansas City.

According to reports in England, the missing items include match boots for several senior players, training balls and other professional gear. Thomas Tuchel's team had been based in Florida for its training camp, where it played warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica.

While the players flew to their hotel in Kansas City on Saturday, the equipment was sent separately by truck to the "Swope Soccer Village" training complex. The load was broken into en route, and reports said only one ball was left inside the truck.

Beyond the boots, thieves also took medical analysis equipment, Tuchel's tactical boards and massage tables. The squad is still trying to determine the full scale of the loss and exactly which items are missing. talkSPORT reported that police have already arrested two suspects. There are also fears in England that the stolen items may include personal boots belonging to stars Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Despite the incident, the team hopes to replace the missing gear quickly and continue its preparations before the tournament begins.