World Cup The England national team was the target of a theft that disrupted their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. During their transition from Palm Beach, Florida, to Kansas City, Missouri, where they have their headquarters, essential training materials were stolen, including personalized cleats belonging to the players, among other items. The incident, which occurred on Friday, led to arrests, with the suspicion from the staff of the English Football Association falling on possible involvement from the drivers of a logistics company subcontracted to transport various materials. Among the stolen items were the cleats that players were set to wear in the tournament, many of which were customized with personal details and adapted orthotics, valued at thousands of euros. In addition to the cleats, the official tournament balls, vests, and other crucial training equipment were taken. According to the Daily Mail, the thieves also attempted to take the ping-pong table, one of the players’ favorite pastimes and important for team morale, but ended up destroying it in the process. Interestingly, not everything was taken. Tuchel’s tactical board, some Lego pieces, and a dartboard – but not the darts themselves – were spared. A single official tournament ball and the team’s mascot, the plush lion Leo, were left behind. Although the police have recovered some of the materials, it is unclear exactly what was recovered or in what quantity. Sources indicate that the England team has contingency plans for such situations, with containers of spare equipment stored in separate locations. England’s first group stage match is against Croatia on Wednesday in Dallas.
Read more in Serie A news. and related tags: England National Team, Cleats Taken.