Arrests reportedly made after theft of equipment from England's World Cup team before opener

England’s World Cup Equipment Stolen en Route to Kansas City, Recoveries Made

Kansas City, Mo., June 2, 2026 – The England national football team’s World Cup preparations were rattled last week when a truck carrying the squad’s kit was broken into while traveling from Florida to the team’s training base at Swope Soccer Village.

Police were called to the scene on Friday night after the team’s vehicles arrived in Kansas City with several items missing, including footwear. A spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department said, “We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening.” The investigation, which was still underway at the time of the report, ultimately led to the recovery of the stolen gear and the arrest of two suspects.

Although the missing items were not deemed essential to England’s participation, the theft came just days before the team’s first tournament match. The Three Lions will face Croatia on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, in a game that marks the start of their World Cup campaign.

England’s squad is set to train at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City for the duration of the tournament. The team’s base‑camp was supposed to be fully prepared before the squad’s arrival on Saturday, but the theft disrupted those plans.

Despite the hiccup, England’s World Cup schedule remains unchanged. After the opening match against Croatia, the team will travel to Boston to play Ghana on June 23. Their final group‑stage game will be against Panama in New Jersey.

Football analysts say England is a strong contender to advance from the group stage, with many predicting they could finish top of their group. The theft of equipment has not altered the team’s outlook, but it has highlighted the logistical challenges of hosting a national squad in a new country.

The Kansas City Police Department continues to investigate the incident and has expressed gratitude that the stolen items have been recovered. No further details about the motive of the thieves have been released.