Robberies, shooting, tornadoes, and a voodoo curse: England's chaotic and incredible road to the 2026 World Cup third-place match

England's quest for a third-place finish in the 2026 World Cup was anything but smooth, marked by a series of bizarre and challenging incidents that tested the team's resilience. From the moment they arrived in the United States, the delegation seemed to be caught in a cascade of misfortunes, including robberies, tornado alerts, a shooting, an earthquake, and even a supposed voodoo curse.

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Help!

Even before the tournament began, nature seemed to conspire against the English squad. On June 9, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck West Palm Beach, where England was playing pre-tournament friendlies. While no injuries or damage were reported within the British camp, the tremor was a novel and unsettling experience for most players, far removed from the predictable drizzle of Great Britain.

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the delegation British in the World Cup 2026 could have intoned it on more than one occasion.

Just five days later, the team faced another natural threat. Upon arriving in Kansas City, their World Cup base, England was hit with a tornado warning. Severe thunderstorms with winds up to 129 kilometers per hour forced the delegation into emergency shelters at their hotel, leading to a sleepless night that was certainly not part of any pre-match preparation manual.

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about 90% of the players had never experienced a seismic movement.

The challenges extended beyond the elements. The security promised by FIFA for the teams was compromised on multiple occasions for the English. On June 7, a shooting incident occurred near the Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, the team's training ground, injuring nine people. Although the players were not directly affected, it heightened the tension surrounding the camp. The situation escalated a week later when, during their transfer from Florida to Kansas City, thieves stole equipment, including boots belonging to star players Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Anthony Gordon. Police later arrested two suspects and recovered some of the stolen items.

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A night of insomnia and confinement that was not in any World Cup preparation manual.