The England national team hadn’t even unpacked their bags when they conceded their first defeat of the World Cup… and it wasn’t on the field. Two people have been arrested by police following a theft from the Three Lions’ support vehicle in Kansas City, Missouri.
That’s right, the British logistics team arrived early to set up their brand-new base camp at Swope Soccer Village, only to discover that someone had already beaten them to the loot. The incident occurred on Friday night, just before the players landed after finishing their training in Florida.
The English Football Association (FA) confirmed the theft to the AP news agency, though they quickly washed their hands of the matter by refusing to provide details, arguing that it is now a “police matter.”
For its part, the Kansas City Police Department confirmed that they already have two “suspects of interest” in custody. Although strong rumors are circulating that some of the stolen equipment has been recovered, authorities are keeping their lips sealed and have refused to confirm it.
The irony of the $650 million
Kansas City marketed itself as the dream base of operations due to its desirable central location, ideal for the English to avoid grueling coast-to-coast flights. Local officials even boasted of investing over $650 million in soccer infrastructure over the past 15 years. However, it seems that amid all that luxury, they forgot to invest a little more in their parking lot locks.
(Here’s a fun fact: the defending champion, Argentina, also has its base in this very city. Watch your backs and your gear, Albicelestes!)
To top off this disastrous welcome, England is scheduled to hold its first open practice this Saturday, but severe thunderstorms threaten to dampen the party and cancel the session.
The English will kick off their Group L campaign against Croatia this Wednesday at Dallas Stadium. Let’s hope that, by then, they at least have complete sets of cleats and uniforms to take the field.
