When the 2026 World Cup starts in June, the action won’t really begin with the first match. For many teams, it starts weeks earlier on training fields away from the spotlight. That’s where coaches set the pace, medical staff help players recover, and everyone gets used to the routines needed for a month-long tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
FIFA has tried to organize this part of the tournament by releasing an official Team Base Camp brochure. It matches possible training sites with places to stay. This lets teams review facilities, travel needs, and security well before the first match, and then choose their base once they know where they’ll play.
Some teams have already announced their choices. Germany will be based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, staying at The Graylyn Estate and training at Wake Forest University. This choice stands out for its practicality, with lodging, training, and media all close together.
Brazil has also shared its plan for the New York and New Jersey area. Reports say Brazil will train at the New York Red Bulls’ new complex in Morris Township, called the Columbia Park Training Center during the tournament, and stay at The Ridge Hotel in Basking Ridge. The setup is modern and built for professional needs, making it easy to travel to matches in the Northeast.
On the East Coast, Croatia has confirmed Alexandria, Virginia, with training at Episcopal High School and lodging at Hotel AKA Alexandria. France, according to reporting summarized by industry outlets, has chosen the Four Seasons Hotel Boston and will train at Babson College in Wellesley. These are not symbolic picks. They are functional ones, aimed at controlling daily variables in a tournament where the calendar, climate, and travel can swing preparation as much as tactics.
Many base camps are being set up far from the stadiums where matches will be played
One thing stands out in the early announcements: many teams are choosing places that won’t host any matches. For example, Japan will use Nashville as its base, training at Nashville SC’s Vanderbilt Health Training Center, according to reports. Spain is expected to be based in Chattanooga, training at Baylor School and staying at The Read House hotel. This shows that the best setup for a team’s daily routine isn’t always in an official host city.
In Mexico, South Korea has been open about its planning, though it hasn’t made a final choice yet. The Korea Football Association said it has listed preferences focused on Guadalajara, where the team will play two group matches. FIFA’s brochure lists two base camp options in the city. Reports from South Korea mention Atlas FC’s training facility and Club Guadalajara’s training ground as likely options, with altitude adjustment being a key reason for picking this area.
In the central United States, Kansas City is becoming a hub for team base camps, though nothing is official yet. Some reports say Argentina is expected to train at Sporting Kansas City’s Compass Minerals National Performance Center, England at Swope Soccer Village, the Netherlands at the Kansas City Current’s facility in Riverside, Missouri, and Algeria at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas. However, FIFA has not confirmed these choices.
The Kansas City plans also show how base camps can be in high demand. Reports say England has looked at other options because it might lose its preferred Kansas site to the Netherlands, depending on FIFA’s rules about location and other factors when teams want the same place. For teams, having a backup plan is less about comfort and more about making daily routines smoother.
If you’re following where teams are setting up, two things stand out. Teams want stable, professional environments, often close to airports and away from the noise of match days. Also, the list of base camps will keep changing. FIFA’s system allows teams to update their choices as the tournament approaches, and many haven’t announced their plans yet.
| Team | Base camp location | Training facility | Lodging | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Wake Forest University | The Graylyn Estate | Confirmed |
| Brazil | Morris Township, New Jersey | Red Bulls Training Complex (Columbia Park Training Center) | The Ridge Hotel, Basking Ridge | Confirmed |
| Croatia | Alexandria, Virginia | Episcopal High School | Hotel AKA Alexandria | Confirmed |
| France | Boston area, Massachusetts | Babson College (Wellesley) | Four Seasons Hotel Boston | Reported |
| Japan | Nashville, Tennessee | Nashville SC Vanderbilt Health Training Center | Not announced | Reported |
| Spain | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Baylor School | The Read House | Reported |
| South Korea | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico | Atlas FC or Club Guadalajara facilities | Not announced | Expected |
| Argentina | Kansas City, Kansas | Compass Minerals National Performance Center | Not announced | Expected |
| England | Kansas City, Missouri | Swope Soccer Village | Not announced | Expected |
| Netherlands | Riverside, Missouri | Kansas City Current training facility | Not announced | Expected |
| Algeria | Lawrence, Kansas | Rock Chalk Park | Not announced | Expected |
