On a December afternoon, as the World Cup draw wrapped up in Washington, the groups and host cities for this summer’s soccer event in North America were revealed, providing teams and their supporters clarity about their upcoming journeys.
For the German football federation, this announcement ignited preparations for matches in Houston, Toronto, and the New York City area.
Additionally, they look forward to returning to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a notably less bustling locale.
The World Cup matches will take place in 16 major cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, while teams will primarily train at base camps set up throughout the continent. Some of these camps are in unexpected places, like prep schools, university grounds, and smaller towns not directly linked to the five-week tournament featuring 48 nations.
Although FIFA won’t confirm these camp choices until the week of February 9, several teams have already stated their plans, and many others are in the final stages of organizing theirs.
Brazil has opted for the new Red Bull New York training facility in northern New Jersey, while Croatia will hold practices at a boarding school near Washington. Spain plans to base itself in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Norway has chosen Greensboro, North Carolina.
Meanwhile, France will set up in Boston, Portugal in Miami, Belgium appears to favor Seattle, and South Korea has selected Guadalajara, Mexico. Reports indicate that four teams, including England and the reigning champions Argentina, are interested in the Kansas City area.
The U.S. team, which has two of its three Group D games in the Los Angeles area, is likely to train full-time in Southern California.
Last year, as the U.S. began qualifying for the World Cup, the race to secure long-term training facilities kicked off, paired with brief visits to match venues. FIFA provided a brochure with 64 potential sites, ranging from professional facilities in major cities to offbeat options like Boise, Idaho; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Spokane, Washington.
The federation had the choice to step back from this process, but any selection needed FIFA’s approval. While FIFA offered a diverse list of options, teams were prioritized according to their rank and proximity to match sites, making it possible for them to overlook top choices.
Germany, sidestepping FIFA’s list, opted to train at Wake Forest University and lodge at the nearby Gray Linn Estate, a boutique hotel recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
Andreas Rettig, the managing director of sports at the German Federation (DFB), commented, “We are establishing the best conditions possible for a successful tournament. This offers an ideal environment both for sports and infrastructure.”
The German Football Association has selected Wake Forest University as the base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Panoramic view of Graylin Estate, where the team will be staying.
(Imagine image via Reuters Connect/Reuters)
Some football federations prefer training camps close to match locations, while others opt for the Midwest, conveniently situated between the coasts. Preferences vary between urban and remote settings to minimize distractions.
On January 9, Germany was the first to publicly confirm its plans, praising Winston-Salem’s hospitality, the facilities at Wake Forest, and the luxury of Gray Linn.
Recent discoveries by Yahoo Sports have elaborated on what influenced Germany’s decision.
Markus Leeuw, in charge of national team management, led a team of five on at least eight transatlantic trips to evaluate more than 40 potential base camps in the U.S. and Mexico. Back home, DFB travel experts meticulously reviewed FIFA brochures to identify suitable candidates.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann emphasized the importance of minimizing travel between the training facility and hotel. Ideally, he wanted to avoid spending long periods commuting, with the distance from Graylin Estate to Spry Stadium just 3.1 miles.
Furthermore, exclusivity of accommodations was crucial for Nagelsmann, wanting the smaller hotel to be solely for the German delegation. The stunning 94-year-old Graylyn is set on 55 acres, boasting 85 guest rooms within a stone structure.
The coach’s next consideration was proximity to the game venues, with short charter flights required for matches. Assuming they secure a top spot in Group E, with expectations of performing well against Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Curaçao, they will travel to Foxboro, Massachusetts, for the Round of 32, leading them to potential games in Philadelphia, Arlington, and ultimately New Jersey.
Leeuw was previously unacquainted with Winston-Salem and Wake Forest before the search intensified, but he made two visits there before joining Nagelsmann on the final scouting trip in October.
Germany’s intentions to remain in the U.S. are somewhat uncertain; if they had been grouped with matches in the Midwest or West, they might have considered shifting their base to Austin, Texas.
With favorable match arrangements, they finalized their plans with Winston-Salem. Leeuw is expected to return to Germany soon with Adidas representatives to kickstart preparations. In April, the DFB will begin the logistics of shipping 14 tons of equipment. Although Wake Forest’s offerings largely meet their needs, German staff intends to construct a tented training facility next to the practice fields, with on-site equipment rentals.
The delegation plans to arrive on June 8, just two days after a friendly against the U.S. in Chicago, prepared with four chefs to provide meals mostly sourced from local ingredients, while special player requests and sponsor items will come from Germany.
In choosing their camp, the DFB reflected on experiences from previous World Cups. During the 2018 tournament in Russia, players and staff expressed dissatisfaction with hotel quality and comfort. At the last World Cup in Qatar, the team was content with accommodations at a rocky seaside hotel and training facility, both located an hour away from the metro area where matches took place. Only Belgium had a base farther from the main action.
When Germany triumphed in Brazil in 2014, they stayed at a remote seaside resort that was also distanced from match venues.
“The team behind the DFB diligently selected the ideal base camp after extensive exploration across the three host countries,” said Rettig. “Thanks to the outcome of the lottery, we could pursue our ideal scenario.”
It would make sense for Portugal to be based in Houston, where two of their group games take place, but, since those games are indoors, coach Roberto Martinez preferred the Miami area instead, where their third game will be held.
Croatia has reached the semifinals in the past two World Cups and opted for Washington, D.C., but the venue was deemed unsuitable for their matches. Their group game locations are in Arlington, Texas; Toronto; and Philadelphia. They will train at the private Episcopal high school in Alexandria, Virginia, and reside in historic Old Town Alexandria, just blocks from the Potomac River.
The Croatian team visited eight potential camps in the U.S. and Canada before ranking their top five and submitting them to FIFA, with Alexandria topping the list. Episcopal has been home to several visiting teams previously, including hosting training for last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
“We considered various factors to establish a fitting base camp: the quality of the training center, hotel standards, geographical positioning, airport proximity, privacy, and overall surroundings,” explained coach Zlatko Dalic. “Alexandria emerged as the best option across all these criteria.”
Spending several weeks at a base camp typically fosters a bond with local hosts. An early exit can lead to mutual disappointment, while going deep into the tournament brings shared excitement.
“Ultimately, the camp’s success will hinge on our performance, and I hope Alexandria remains a fond memory for us,” added Dalic.
In the world of soccer, the choice of training camps can significantly influence a team’s performance and morale. As these federations make critical decisions about their preparations, fans can see how strategic planning impacts their favorite teams’ chances on the world stage.
