The England men’s national football team, currently in the United States (US) for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, had their equipment stolen in transit.
According to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, the equipment was stolen sometime during the team’s trip from Florida to its training camp in Kansas City. In a statement on X, the mayor said that an investigation has been launched to trace the thieves.
He wrote: “Public safety officials at the local, state and federal levels are working to trace where in the United States the items were seized and any individuals who may have been involved.”
In a separate tweet later, the mayor welcomed the British team and shared photos of its arrival at the airport. However, he did not mention anything about the stolen gear.
Reports indicate that the stolen goods included, among other things, footwear and soccer balls. No “game critical” element was taken.
The British television company BBC claimed that the equipment has already been recovered and that two arrests were made in connection with the theft, but there is no official confirmation from the team or the mayor.
The England soccer team will hold their first training session in Kansas City on Sunday as they prepare to play their first World Cup match against Croatia on Wednesday.
