▲ The England national football team training at their base camp in Kansas City, USA.
Two men have been arrested and charged for stealing training equipment belonging to the England national football team, which is currently participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Associated Press reported today (June 14) that the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office in Missouri, USA, has charged Mustapha Salih and Erfan Kamal, both from San Antonio, with receiving stolen property. The report stated that the charge is a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison, with bail set at $75,000 (approximately 114 million KRW).
The England team, which had been preparing for the tournament at a pre-camp in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, had loaded their training equipment and players' luggage onto a vehicle to be transported to their base camp in Kansas City.
However, the team discovered the items were missing while unloading the cargo in Kansas City and subsequently filed a report.
According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, items found in the suspects' possession included nine pairs of soccer cleats, goalkeeper gloves, official World Cup match balls, several sets of training gear, electronic devices, dolls, jerseys signed by team players, and a Nike Air sneaker LEGO set valued at $99.99.
The value of the stolen goods was estimated at $18,000 (approximately 27 million KRW), though it was reported that the equipment essential for the England team's World Cup preparations was not included in the theft.
Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson stated, "We will not tolerate criminal acts against visitors, including World Cup participating teams," adding, "I am grateful to the Kansas City Police Department and the prosecutors who conducted a swift investigation."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.