England's Stolen Kit Returned Before World Cup Opener

Days before England's opening match against Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the team's stolen kit was returned. The theft occurred in Kansas City, Missouri, where the England Football Association had set up its base of operations at Swope Soccer Village.

Items stolen included four pairs of football boots, five pairs of trainers, and three signed England shirts, valued at approximately $5,000. The return of the items was confirmed despite initial issues.

Two individuals, Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal, have been indicted by Jackson County Prosecutor Melissa Johnson for receiving stolen property, facing Class D felony charges in Missouri that could result in a prison term of up to seven years or less than one year. England's team, under coach Thomas Tuchel, had flown to Florida for a training camp, where they achieved three wins against New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Miami FC, before their World Cup fixture against Croatia.