Local, state, and federal US authorities are accelerating their investigation after sports equipment belonging to the England national football team, preparing for the World Cup, was stolen during transportation.
Foreign news agencies reported, citing Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, that officials at local, state, and federal levels are urgently investigating after equipment for England's 2026 World Cup squad was stolen prior to the team's arrival at their training camp on Saturday, 13 June.
The BBC reported that stolen items included footballs and cleats, with perpetrators breaking into a vehicle used to transport equipment to the Swope Soccer Village training center.
Mayor Lucas issued a statement on the X platform titled “Statement on the Theft of England National Team Equipment During Transport.”
“Yesterday, Kansas City authorities were informed that at some point during land transportation from Florida to the training center in Kansas City, the England team’s property was stolen from the vehicle used to transport their equipment,” Lucas said in the statement.
“Public safety officials at local, state, and federal levels are collaborating to trace where the items were stolen within the US and to track down all individuals involved. Authorities will provide further updates later,” he added.
Meanwhile, the England squad, coached by Thomas Tuchel, held their first training session at Swope Soccer Village at 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday after relocating from their pre-tournament camp in Florida.
The Three Lions are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against Croatia this Wednesday, followed by matches against Ghana and Panama in Group L.
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Source:cna