England robbery: 2 arrested over $30k heist face jail

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World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

TWO ARRESTED OVER $30k ENGLAND ROBBERY

Two men arrested in connection with the England football team robbery at the weekend are facing up to seven years in jail.

Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal were both caught and questioned by local police after equipment valued up to $30,000 was stolen from the England camp last Friday local time.

According to reports in the UK, three signed shirts – valued up to $8000 – and two of the team’s mascot costumes were among the goods snatched during a raid in Florida.

The duo was reportedly paid to take the England team’s cargo from their warm-up base to Kansas but helped themselves enroute.

They have been remanded in custody.

Reserve keeper Dean Henderson said his boots went missing, but confirmed: “I got them back. “We got everything back.”

It's been an eventful lead up to Thomas Tuchel's side's opening clash with Croatia; they had shootings outside of their training ground and were yesterday (Sunday) forced to shelter from a tornado.

AUSSIE REF UNDER FIRE

FIFA are expected to launch an investigation into an Australian match official who was caught on camera performing what has been described as “a expression of white supremacy” during Germany’s 7-1 demolition of Curacao.

Ahead of the match, which was played in Houston, Texas on Monday morning (AEST), Australian A-League referee Shaun Evans was pictured with his hand making the controversial signal.

Evans was pictured alongside video referee Hamza El Fario and assistant Nicolas Gallo in the VAR headquarters for the Cup in Dallas.

While the gesture is synonymous to those supporting white supremacy and his behaviour has caused significant backlash, it is also linked with a practical joke among friends.

According to the UK Telegraph, “FIFA investigations appear likely into why he appeared to do the “OK” hand sign upside down.”

An official at the Paris 2024 Olympics had his accreditation revoked for making the same gesture during a skateboarding final.

IRAN TAKE AIM AT FIFA

The Iranian football team has endured more than most coming into the World Cup and after finally touching down in Mexico, both coach and captain had some frank words for FIFA.

In the lead up to the tournament, ongoing hostilities between Iran and the US meant the side were forced to relocate to Mexico after being told they could not stay in the US overnight - despite all three of their group matches being held in mainland America.

Since US air strikes began in February there has been doubt over Iran's involvement in the tournament but in their first media call since arriving Amir Ghalenoei and captain Mehdi Taremi insists their spirits will not be impacted.

“This kind of tension undermines that joy and it undermines the message of FIFA and our people, which is about football and bringing about peace,” Taremi said. “I think this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has, and I hope in the future it will be better for all fans, whoever they are supporting.

“It’s not just Iran that has been impacted; others have been impacted, including referees (the Somali official Omar Artan was denied entry). I have felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup.

“Of course, we don’t have the same beautiful experience we usually talk about – peace and joy. I know several countries had visa problems and changing of training camps. The tension exists – it did before the World Cup even started. The feeling, the sensation people always have looking forward to a World Cup, I think this time they hadn’t had the same feeling.”

FIFA STATEMENT ON URUGUAY

"Due to an airline permitting error in Mexico, the Uruguay national team's departure from Cancun to Miami was delayed.

"The airline has apologised for the inconvenience caused. FIFA remained in close contact with the Uruguay national team throughout their delay and worked alongside airport and operational partners to help expedite the process and minimise disruption to the team's travel arrangements."

URUGUAY SCRAMBLING AHEAD OF OPENER

The Uruguay national team is battling to gain entry to the USA just 24 hours out from their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener.

A problem with paperwork has the Uruguayans scrambling to get across the border from Mexico for Tuesday’s Group H clash with Saudi Arabia in Miami (kick-off 8am AEST).

Reports suggest the aircraft carrying the players did not comply with US regulations, denying them entry to Florida.

“Due to problems beyond the control of the AUF, the departure from Mexico has been delayed,” read a statement from the Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol (AUF).

“The squad is resting at the hotel. The new departure time set by FIFA is 4.15pm.”

The South Americans are based at the Mayakoba complex in Playa del Carmen and were scheduled to leave to Miami on Sunday local time but an error regarding their documentation prompted the denial.

The delay has forced the cancellation of Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa’s pre-game press conference. The AUF and FIFA are working together to find a solution.

GOAL SWEDEN!

Drama in Guadalupe!

This is one that will be looked at over and over again.

Just 18 seconds after entering the game off the bench, Mattias Svanberg found himself on the end of a low cross, belting the ball beyond Chamakh in Tunisia's net to make it 4-1.

However, the goal was immediately ruled out for offside, with Svanberg caught miles beyond the final defender.

VAR had a look... and determined that Alexander Isak got a touch on the ball following the cross, and at the time of his slight touch, Svanberg was in an onside position.

The barest of touches by the Swedish attacker and the substitute's goal stands, and Sweden are in dreamland to kick off their World Cup campaign!

GOAL SWEDEN!

Victor Gyokeres capitalises!

A costly error in defence from Tunisian captain Ellyes Skhiri as Alexander Isak pounced, winning the ball back in a dangerous area and laying off to Gyokeres, finishing to extend their lead.

3-1 Sweden!

HALF TIME!

Sweden lead 2-1 at the half!

An end-to-end contest, Tunisia are well and truly in this!

GOAL TUNISIA!

Tunisia strike back!

A lovely ball into the box from Hannibal Mejri found the head of Omar Rekik, nodding across goal and finding the bottom corner.

2-1.

GOAL SWEDEN!

Alexander Isak makes it 2-0!

The Liverpool striker picked up the ball on the counter, takes his man on and finishes to double Sweden's lead.

GOAL SWEDEN!

Yasin Ayari goes bang and fires a bouncing ball into the top corner in the 7th minute.

A 1-0 lead to the Swedes.

PLAY IS UNDERWAY IN NORTHERN MEXICO!

Sweden v Tunisia from the Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe.

IVORY COAST 1-0 ECUADOR

Amad Diallo's superb late finish proves the difference as Ivory Coast downs Ecuador in Philadelphia.

It's 12 years since their last World Cup win when they beat Japan back in 2014.

Les Éléphants missed the last two World Cups but are back on the big stage and have secured three points in their Group E opener.

Ivory Coast sits second in their group with three points and a goal difference of one, with Germany on top after their 7-1 crushing of Curacao.

The next match day in Group E pits the Ivorians against the Germans in Toronto on Sunday, June 21 (6am AEST). The other fixture takes place in Kansas City between Ecuador and Curacao at 10am on the same day.

Next up today is the Group F game between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe from 12pm AEST.

GOAL!

Ivory Coast might have broken Ecuadorian hearts in Philly.

Super sub Amad Diallo of Manchester United fame proceeded a sumptuous finish in the 90th minute to give Les Éléphants a late lead.

THANK YOU TURKIYE

Australia's opening goal scorer of the World Cup Nestory Irankunda says the dissing from Turkiye pre-match was a huge motivator to get the three points.

A day out from the clash in Vancouver, Hakan Calhanoglu told the media: “I think we will dominate (Saturday), the game, because we have more qualities and a more talented team,” Calhanoglu said of Australia. “So we will see what happens.”

He wasn't alone in minimising the threat Australia posed in the Group with numerous US pundits also suggesting the Socceroos had no chance.

But trash talk all you want, is the message from camp.

“Obviously that gave us fire in our belly,” Irankunda said.

“It obviously did piss off a few boys, but at the end of the day, these guys can talk all their s***, so we don’t really care.”

Even after losing 2-0, Calhanoglu stood by his sledge.

“I don’t think they did the same like you," he said. "We dominated today, Australia was just behind, defending good.

“Two long goals, they scored. It was our mistakes.

“If you go through the whole 90 minutes and you don’t score, it means you have to always be focused.

“Never give up because I think we did a good game, just we didn’t score.”

GOALLESS HALF

0-0 at half-time in Philly.

The Ivorian woodwork has been busy, denying the Ecuadorians on two occasions with both John Yeboah Zamora and Alan Minda agonisingly close to scoring.

Ivory Coast had some ok chances themselves but nothing as gilt-edged as their South American rivals.

There are three Ivorian players on yellow cards - Seko Fofana, Franck Kessie and Guela Doue - which could make things interesting in the second half.

IVORY COAST V ECUADOR UNDERWAY

We're away in Philadelphia with the second Group E fixture.

Ivory Coast v Ecuador from Philadelphia Stadium.

ALL SQUARE IN DALLAS

Japan fought back on two occasions to take a point from their Group F opener with Netherlands which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Virgil Van Dijk opened the scoring for the Dutch with a clinical header on 51 minutes before Keito Nakamura levelled just six minutes later.

Crysencio Summerville's delightful go-ahead goal came in the 64th minute and it seemed like the Oranje would pocket maximum points before Koki Ogawa and Daichi Kamada's late headed intervention, with the goal awarded to the latter.

The next Group F game is between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe from 12pm AEST.

Next on the agenda, however, is Group E's Ivory Coast v Ecuador in Philadelphia from 9am AEST.

JAPAN EQUALISE!

Never write off Japan.

They've levelled in the 88th minute, again coming from behind to level the scores.

A whipped corner was headed expertly by Koki Ogawa, taking a touch off Daichi Kamada who was awarded the goal.

Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen didn't do well enough to keep it out despite getting both hands to the ball.

2-2 into injury time.

IT'S RAINING GOALS!

Non-stop action in Dallas where in the space of 12 minutes we have had three goals. The Netherlands reclaim their lead thanks to Crysencio Summerville netting his first international goal.

He only had two caps for his country before playing today, one of only four Dutch peers to be considered a major tournament rookie! What a memorable World Cup debut for him and an incredible strike.

GOALS IN DALLAS!!

The deadlock is finally broken between the Netherlands and Japan with Virgil Van Dijk netting a peach of a header into the bottom right corner.

Threats from both sides through the first 50 minutes but it's the Oranje that go ahead.

But no sooner had they scored that Japan responds, and it's a wonderfully constructed goal with an equally impressive strike from Keito Nakamura. All square.

CURACAO HIT FOR SEVEN

It was the perfect start for Curacao...and nobody saw it coming but the dream turned to a nightmare for the tiny island who just suffered the heaviest defeat as a World Cup debutant side since South Korea in 1954.

Germany's opener from Felix Nmecha was cancelled out by Livano Comenencia, and the small nation's hopes lifted.

But the drinks break allowed Germany to regroup and then came the onslaught to secure them their first opening match victory since they won the tournament in 2014.

Ensuing goals from defender Nico Schlotterbeck, a brace from Arsenal's Kai Havertz, and Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav helped the Germans to a massive scoreline.

The 7-1 result sits equal third on Germany's World Cup win list behind the 8-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia in 2002, the 6-0 win over Mexico in 1978 and alongside the remarkable 7-1 Semi Final smashing of Brazil in 2014.