England's national team suffered an unexpected crisis ahead of their opening match against Croatia at the 2026 World Cup, after equipment belonging to the squad was stolen, including players' boots, tournament balls, and some training gear.
British newspaper the Daily Mail reported that England were hit by a theft that included several players' boots, some training equipment, and official match balls, causing considerable disruption inside the team's camp ahead of their tournament debut.
The stolen items comprised personal sports boots belonging to a number of players, along with official training balls and some essential equipment used by the technical staff.
The report revealed that the squad were left with just a single ball, prompting team officials to act quickly to source replacements so that their preparatory programme would not be affected ahead of the start of their campaign.
The Football Association is working in coordination with local police to try to recover the stolen items and establish the circumstances of the incident. The theft comes just days before England face Croatia in the opening fixture of both sides' 2026 World Cup campaign, as the squad attempt to swiftly move past the crisis and ensure their preparations are not disrupted in their bid to compete for the title.