England's training equipment was stolen before the squad touched down in Kansas City on Saturday. The Football Association is cataloguing missing items, fearing balls and boots were taken after two vans were broken into at the Swope Soccer Village base. Police responded Friday night and remain in contact with the FA. The break‑in occurred late Friday, just hours before the team’s scheduled arrival.

Thomas Tuchel and his 23‑man squad will land Saturday afternoon, expecting the gear to be ready for training sessions ahead of their opening World Cup match against Croatia on Wednesday. A shortage of balls and boots could disrupt drills, forcing coaches to improvise or borrow local equipment, a scenario rarely seen at a tournament of this scale.

The FA is working with law enforcement to recover the stolen items and tighten security around the base. While the theft adds a logistical headache, the Three Lions have a full training schedule and intend to maintain focus on the group stage. Their performance on Wednesday will reveal whether the disruption mattered.