Two charged as England's stolen World Cup equipment valued at £13,500

Two men have been charged by Jackson County prosecutors in Missouri after England’s equipment was stolen en route to Kansas City ahead of their World Cup 2026 Group L opener against Croatia. The total value of the missing items has been confirmed at approximately $18,000, or £13,500.

The theft, first reported by the Daily Mail, initially left Thomas Tuchel’s squad with reportedly just one football to train with. Among the missing inventory were the boots of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, along with analysis equipment and whiteboards used by the England coaching staff — raising early concerns about whether sensitive tactical information had been compromised.

Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson confirmed the charges and praised the swift response from local law enforcement. “We thank the Kansas City Police Department and our on-call attorneys for their quick work investigating this incident and filing charges immediately,” she said. “Our office is committed to holding these individuals accountable. It’s understood that much of the stolen equipment has been recovered.”

The BBC had previously reported that the majority of the stolen gear had been returned, and subsequent confirmation clarified that no elite boots and nothing deemed game-critical had ultimately been taken. The whiteboards and analysis tools — the most financially and tactically significant items — were among the equipment recovered.

England had travelled to Missouri to establish a base for what they hope will be at least three weeks of World Cup football. The resolution of the theft saga allows Tuchel and his squad to focus their preparations on Croatia with considerably fewer distractions than the opening days of the tournament brought.