KANSAS CITY: England’s preparations for the World Cup have been hit by the theft of equipment ahead of the team’s arrival at their training base in Kansas City on Saturday.
Balls and boots were reportedly among the items stolen after vehicles transporting the team to the team’s base at Swope Soccer Village were broken into, according to the bbc.
The equipment had to be ready before the team began training after arriving in Kansas City on Saturday.
The Football Association confirmed the British Press Association that an incident had occurred but was unable to provide further information as it was now a police matter.
The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department told the daily mail: “We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with missing items this afternoon. The investigation is ongoing.”
The BBC said it understood two arrests had been made in connection with the episode.
Thomas Tuchel’s England will train at Swope Soccer Village for the first time at 5:00 pm (22:00 GMT) on Saturday after being transferred from their pre-tournament base in Florida.
They open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, before other matches in Group L against Ghana and Panama.
The theft could affect England’s preparations for their World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas.
