World Cup 2026: England WAGs in the Crosshairs of Gangs (Photos)

The wives and girlfriends (WAGs) of England's national team players are potential targets for robbery gangs in Mexico City ahead of the World Cup last-16 clash between England and Mexico, The Sun reports. The British tabloid claims this information comes from a confidential police intelligence report.

According to the document, every move made by the WAGs could be monitored by criminals aiming to steal jewelry and designer clothing. Authorities believe gangs might resort to violent methods, such as mutilation to remove rings or staging muggings.

The players' partners, including Ellie, wife of Ollie Watkins, Ashlyn Castro, girlfriend of Jude Bellingham, and Tomali Benso, partner of Bukayo Saka, are expected to be under tight surveillance by authorities.

Dai Davies, former head of the Scotland Yard royal protection unit, noted that this is not a new problem. "WAGs have been high-profile targets at previous tournaments," he stated, adding: "In the past, they used to travel with a considerable degree of security. This warning sounds eerily familiar."

The newspaper highlights the new generation of wives and girlfriends of the Three Lions squad. The term, popularized in 2006 by figures like Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole, and Coleen Rooney, now describes a group of women with established professional careers, ranging from nursing and interior design to artificial intelligence engineering.