England training kit stolen before World Cup base arrival
Kansas City police said two people were taken into custody after equipment went missing from an England team vehicle.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
England’s World Cup preparations have been disrupted by the reported theft of training equipment before the squad reached its tournament base in Kansas City, Missouri. Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, reported that the missing items were discovered as gear was being moved from England’s Florida camp to Swope Soccer Village.
The equipment was meant to be ready at the training site before the players arrive in Kansas City on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera. England had been using Florida as a pre-tournament base before relocating for the World Cup.
British media reported that balls and boots were among the stolen items, according to Al Jazeera. Kansas City police said they were examining what happened after a team vehicle reached the city with items missing.
“We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening,” police said, according to Al Jazeera.
Police also said the inquiry had not been completed and that two people had been detained. “The investigation is ongoing. Two subjects of interest were taken into custody pending further investigation,” police said, according to the report.
Opening match approaches
Al Jazeera reported that the theft could affect England’s build-up to their first World Cup match, against Croatia on Wednesday in Dallas. The squad is due to arrive in Kansas City on Saturday after completing its stay in Florida.
England used the Florida camp to prepare for hot and humid conditions, according to Al Jazeera. The team also played warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica, with those games staged in Tampa Bay and Orlando.
Swope Soccer Village is the site where England’s training setup was expected to be in place before the squad began work in Kansas City, Al Jazeera reported. The report did not say how much equipment was missing or whether replacements had already been arranged.
Kansas City is also part of the base-camp plans for other World Cup teams. Al Jazeera reported that Algeria, Argentina and the Netherlands have also chosen to stay in or near the city during the tournament.
The incident adds an off-field problem for England in the final days before their opener. Police said their investigation remained active, and Al Jazeera reported no further details on potential charges or the recovery of any equipment.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.