<\/p>\n
England\u2019s World Cup preparations have hit a snag as players\u2019 boots, official tournament balls and training equipment have reportedly been stolen from a van.<\/p>\n
The Daily Mail Sport<\/a> reported that the theft occurred when the van was on its way to England\u2019s Swope Soccer Village base in Kansas City, Missouri from West Palm Beach in Florida.<\/p>\n UFC FREEDOM 250 | MONDAY 15 JUNE 10AM AEST | UFC Freedom 250 delivers a landmark night of fights from the White House, with Topuria vs Gaethje leading a stacked card celebrating America\u2019s 250th anniversary | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n England are set to train at their new base for the first time on Saturday afternoon local time, but are now scrambling with sources saying just one football was left among the cargo that remained.<\/p>\n While it is believed that boots belonging to superstars like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham may be gone.<\/p>\n England play their opening game against Croatia on Thursday morning Australian time and the build-up to that match is now plagued by a police investigation.<\/p>\n The Daily Mail\u2019s report stated that \u201cwe understand security staff suspect that drivers they trusted to deliver the kit could be involved. The FA are now liaising with local police as desperate attempts are made to recover the stolen goods\u201d.<\/p>\n Analysis equipment, manager Thomas Tuchel\u2019s whiteboards and massage tables are among the other items that were being transported from England\u2019s pre-tournament camp in Florida to their base for the next three weeks in Kansas City.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n Socceroos Daily \u2014 Aussie teen linked with Spanish giant in bombshell report<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffWorld Cup LIVE: First look at Aussie group rivals as USA faces pressure test<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Where are your gloves?\u2019: Inside legendary Aussie career… and crazy detail in humble origin story<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Never f***ing do this again\u2019: How fuse was lit for \u201806 Socceroos explosion that \u2018changed everything\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Popovic facing big selection calls | 03:16<\/p>\n EX-ARSENAL STAR DENIED VISA<\/b><\/p>\n Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape charges, will miss Ghana\u2019s World Cup opener against Panama after Canadian authorities denied him a visa, FIFA said on Friday.<\/p>\n The Villarreal midfielder, who previously played for Arsenal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.<\/p>\n A trial has been set for next year, allowing the 32-year-old to represent Ghana at the World Cup, but he will not be involved in Wednesday\u2019s match in Toronto.<\/p>\n \u201cFIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana\u2019s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,\u201d world football\u2019s governing body said.<\/p>\n FIFA said it was \u201cnot involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAs with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n FULL 2026 WORLD CUP SCHEDULE WITH AUSTRALIAN TIMES AND DATES<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Canadian immigration chiefs said it was not possible to provide details on individual cases, adding that the safety of citizens was its priority.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is why IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Canada) applies its rules consistently and without exception, regardless of nationality, profile, or role in the tournament,\u201d said a statement from the IRCC.<\/p>\n \u201cIRCC officers are trained decision-makers who assess an individual\u2019s eligibility and admissibility in accordance with Canadian immigration laws.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they believe that an individual could pose a security risk, they may decide to deny them entry.\u201d It is understood that Partey will be eligible to play in Ghana\u2019s subsequent Group L games against England and Croatia, which will both take place in the United States.<\/p>\n Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for \u00a345 million ($60 million).<\/p>\n He left the London club in June 2025 after making 167 appearances and has won more than 50 caps for Ghana.<\/p>\n Korea Replublic defeat Czechia | 01:26<\/p>\n TICKET PRICES IN THE SPOTLIGHT<\/b><\/p>\n On the eve of the tournament, FIFA president Gianni Infantino responded to backlash about ticket prices by making a grand statement.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil today, we have sold over six million tickets,\u201d Infantino said at his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. \u201cThe demand has been unprecedented, not by a little bit, but by a factor of 10 or more.\u201d The first match between two non-hosting nations exposed the ticketing issue, which received widespread backlash in the lead-up to the tournament, with thousands of empty seats visible at the Estadio Akron.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, the sea of red seats was largely in the lower section closer to the pitch.<\/p>\n A seat in the lower tier cost fans US$500 ($710), while the corporate section was also barren – where supporters would have to stump up US$5,000 ($7,098) to be a VIP.<\/p>\n Eyebrows were raised, however, when during the enthralling second half – South Korea came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 – FIFA announced the official attendance was 44,985.<\/p>\n The Akron has an official\u2019s capacity for the tournament is 45,664, making it the second-smallest venue in use at the World Cup behind Toronto, but only roughly 700 empty seats did not pass the eye test.<\/p>\n A FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic<\/a>: \u201cOfficial attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium footprint, rather than visual assessments of seating occupancy at any given moment during the match. FIFA works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease note that, during last night\u2019s match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match.\u201d<\/p>\n The ticketing saga will be a close watch throughout the rest of the tournament.<\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018MAYBE ITALY QUALIFY\u2019: FIFA BOSS\u2019 SHOT AT AZZURRI<\/b><\/p>\n FIFA president Gianni Infantino joked that struggling Italy might manage to qualify for the World Cup if the competition was expanded from 48 to 64 teams in 2030.<\/p>\n Four-time world champions Italy failed to qualify for Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and now North America 2026, the first edition to feature 48 teams.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have had discussions about expanding to 64 teams … the matter was presented to the FIFA council,\u201d Infantino told Brazilian digital broadcaster CazeTV on Thursday before the World Cup opener, which Mexico won 2-0 against South Africa.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe Italy qualify with 64 teams, or we could even go up to 208 teams,\u201d he added with a laugh in a brief interview as he entered Mexico City\u2019s Azteca Stadium.<\/p>\n South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay is promoting a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams to mark the centenary of the tournament\u2019s first edition, Uruguay 1930.<\/p>\n Part of the event will be held in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina as a nod to the tournament\u2019s history, but the main host nations will be Spain, Portugal and Morocco.<\/p>\n \u201cWe first have to see how this first World Cup with 48 teams goes,\u201d Infantino said.<\/p>\n Italy\u2019s sports minister Andrea Abodi was widely quoted by media as saying that he wanted to speak to Infantino as he was left \u201cperplexed\u201d by his comments.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven that there is a big distance between Italy and Mexico, I\u2019d rather speak to him on the telephone to understand (what he meant),\u201d said Abodi.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to hear from him directly.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n Socceroos Daily \u2014<\/i>\ufeffPre-World Cup shock as Australia makes early call on coach<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018Uninspiring\u2019: What WC rivals think of us… and why a \u2018national tragedy\u2019 could come next<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n