The English national football team has fallen victim to a theft just prior to their arrival at their World Cup accommodation in Kansas City.
According to reports from the BBC, vehicles transporting equipment to the Swope Soccer Village training ground were broken into.
It remains unclear which items were stolen, but there are fears that essentials such as footballs and boots may have been pilfered. The squad, managed by Thomas Tuchel, is scheduled to arrive in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon, with the equipment having been sent ahead.
England Faces Croatia in Opening Match
Local police were reportedly on the scene Friday evening and are in communication with the FA to investigate the incident. Further details regarding the extent of the theft or potential perpetrators were not immediately available. The incident comes at an inopportune time for the Three Lions, as they are set to begin their World Cup campaign on Wednesday evening (10:00 PM CEST) in Dallas, facing Croatia in their opening fixture.
It is currently uncertain whether the training schedule will be impacted by the loss of equipment, and to what extent. The FA is working diligently to ascertain the full list of stolen items as quickly as possible.
The English national football team has fallen victim to a theft just prior to their arrival at their World Cup accommodation in Kansas City. Vehicles carrying essential gear to their training facility, Swope Soccer Village, were reportedly broken into.
While the exact items stolen are still unknown, concerns are high that crucial equipment like footballs and boots may be among the missing. The team, led by national coach Thomas Tuchel, is expected to land in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon, with their training apparatus having been dispatched earlier.
England Set for Immediate Clash with Croatia
Authorities were on-site Friday evening, according to local sources, and are liaising with the football association to piece together the events. Specifics about the scale of the theft or any leads on culprits have not yet been released. This unfortunate event occurs at a critical juncture for the Three Lions, who are slated to commence their World Cup journey on Wednesday evening (10:00 PM CEST) in Dallas, directly confronting Croatia.
The potential repercussions on training operations due to the missing equipment are still to be determined. The FA is actively engaged in securing a swift and comprehensive inventory of the stolen items.