A security breakdown led to several items being stolen England’s World Cup team while moving from their pre-tournament base in Florida to their training camp in Kansas City, according to the Guardian.
Among the items reportedly stolen from the vehicles were match boots for several of the team’s stars, as well as tournament balls and training equipment. It presents a logistical challenge for the team, which is scheduled to train at Swope Soccer Village in Missouri on Saturday.
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department told Rob Harris of Sky News they are investigating the matter:
“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.”
Minutes later, the police said “Two subjects of interest were taken into custody pending further investigation.”
England had previously been enjoying a smooth run-up to the World Cup, with a 1-0 win over New Zealand and 3-0 win over Costa Rica in friendlies in Florida.
The Three Lions are scheduled to begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday. At +700 odds, they are among the favorites for the tournament.
