FLORIDA – England’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 were briefly disrupted after equipment belonging to the national team was stolen from a vehicle transporting training gear between two locations in the United States.
The officials said that the incident occurred while team equipment was being moved from a pre-tournament training camp in Florida to Kansas City.
US prosecutors said items worth around $18,000 (approximately over Rs5 million) were stolen during the incident.
A case has been registered against two individuals identified as Mustafa Salik and Irfan Kamal in connection with the theft.
England players hit by theft at FIFA World Cup 2026: Boots and balls stolen ahead of Kansas City arrival
The theft could affect England’s preparations for their World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas.
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Court documents showed that the stolen items included football boots, a match ball, goalkeeper gloves, training kits and three signed jerseys, among a total of around 32 items. The signed jerseys alone were valued at nearly $15,000, while the value of some other items was not immediately disclosed.
The English Football Association clarified that the stolen equipment did not include any essential match-day resources and did not affect team preparations or upcoming fixtures.
The officials also confirmed that a large portion of the stolen goods was later recovered during the investigation.
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