One England player's wife had a far more stressful World Cup arrival than planned after landing in the United States without her suitcase.
England's tournament opener against Croatia already carried enough tension on the pitch, with Thomas Tuchel's side eventually winning a chaotic 4-2 game.
Away from the match itself, though, one family member had to deal with a very different problem before kick-off. The issue was simple, but badly timed: the case had not arrived, and the player involved was due to play that night.
Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images
Megan Pickford, the wife of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, shared the travel problem on TikTok after arriving in America for the World Cup.
"My top five horror stories [after] arriving in America for the World Cup: My suitcase did not arrive. Now sharing my 7-year-old's kit," Megan revealed.
She added, "My husband plays tonight, the airline hasn't got back with when my case will come."
The mishap left her improvising before England's game, with reports saying she ended up wearing her son Arlo's England shirt while waiting for the airline to update her on the missing luggage.
It was a personal travel headache at exactly the wrong time, with Pickford preparing to start in goal for England's World Cup opener against Croatia.
The luggage problem became a lighter side story because England ultimately did their job on the pitch, even if the game itself was far from calm for Pickford and the defence.
England beat Croatia 4-2 in Dallas, with Harry Kane scoring twice before Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford added the second-half goals that secured all three points.
Croatia twice pulled level, which meant Pickford still had to work through a tense opener rather than enjoy a routine night. For Megan, the timing of the suitcase issue made the story relatable despite the World Cup setting.
Fans travel across continents for these tournaments, and even families connected to players are not immune to airline problems, delayed bags, and last-minute wardrobe fixes.
The difference is that most missing-luggage stories do not happen hours before a spouse is playing in one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
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