English players targeted by thieves – valuable equipment stolen, including players' boots

England’s World Cup preparations have been thrown into chaos after a major theft saw players’ boots, official match balls and vital training equipment disappear before the squad’s first session in Kansas City.

According to Daily Mail Sport, some of the team’s most valuable gear was stolen while being transported from the pre-tournament camp in West Palm Beach, Florida, to the Three Lions’ training base at Swope Soccer Village in Missouri, where they are scheduled to stay for at least the next three weeks.

The incident has left staff urgently assessing the extent of the losses ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s first training session in Kansas City on Saturday. Reports suggest that only a single football remained from the shipment, while boots belonging to key players such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are feared to be among the missing items.

Police have already made an arrest in connection with the case. The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department confirmed: "We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening. The investigation is ongoing."

The theft represents a significant setback for England just days before their World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday. Security personnel reportedly suspect that individuals involved in transporting the equipment may have played a role, and the Football Association is now working closely with local authorities in an effort to recover the missing items.

Among the stolen cargo were several pieces of equipment considered essential to England’s preparations, including analysis technology, Tuchel’s tactical whiteboards and massage tables, all packed up for the move from Florida to the team’s official tournament headquarters.

With the clock ticking, England’s backroom staff are now facing the challenge of either retrieving or replacing equipment that forms a crucial part of the detailed planning behind their bid to win a first World Cup outside their home country.