World Cup 2026: Where Every Team Will Sleep, Train, and Prepare
With kickoff just weeks away, the 48 nations heading to the World Cup are locking in their final preparations. While players focus on fitness and tactics, a quieter operation is underway across the United States, Mexico, and Canada: the setup of base camps.
These aren't just hotels. Each team has chosen a FIFA-approved hub that includes training fields, gyms, recovery rooms, and analysis centers. Think of them as temporary homes where squads will live, eat, and train during the group stage, which runs from June 11 to 27. Teams that advance to the knockout rounds can stay put or relocate closer to their next match.
Here is a look at where some of the biggest names will be based.
**Title favorites on the move** - **Argentina**, the defending champions, will set up in Kansas City, Missouri, training at the Sporting KC Performance Center. They'll enjoy custom hotel amenities, just as they did in Qatar, where they grilled their traditional barbecue. Their opener is against Algeria in Kansas City. - **Brazil** chose New York City, with training across the river in New Jersey at the New York Red Bulls' facility. They face Morocco in their first match at MetLife Stadium. - **France** heads to Waltham, Massachusetts, training at Bentley University. The school says classes will continue as usual, with added security for Les Bleus. They open against Senegal in New Jersey. - **Germany** picked Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the Graylyn Estate. Coach Julian Nagelsmann cited the privacy and proximity to Wake Forest University's top-tier soccer stadium as key factors. - **England** will be in Kansas City, Missouri, joining Argentina and the Netherlands in the same city. Their training base is the Swope Soccer Centre.
**Host nations with home-field edge** - **Canada** will bunk in Vancouver, where they play two of three group matches. Their training home is the National Soccer Development Centre. - **Mexico** stays in Mexico City, training and sleeping at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento, just 15 minutes from the iconic Azteca Stadium. - **USA** will be in Irvine, California, training at the Great Park Sports Complex, a retired military airbase. Sporting director Matt Crocker called the facilities "simply outstanding."
**Long shots and returners** - **Iraq** returns after 40 years and will stay at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, a luxury property that has hosted 28 U.S. presidents. Their training center is on the resort grounds. - **DR Congo** is back for the first time since 1974 (when it was Zaire). They'll train at Houston Sports Park, home to the Houston Dynamo. - **Cape Verde** and **Curacao** are World Cup debutants. Cape Verde will train in Tampa, Florida; Curacao in Boca Raton, Florida. - **Iran's** participation remains politically charged, but Tucson, Arizona, is ready. FC Tucson's president says the city will welcome them with open arms.
**Other notable picks** - **Morocco** returns to the Pingry School in New Jersey, a base camp used during the 1994 World Cup. - **Uruguay** chose the resort town of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, training at the Mayakoba Training Center. - **Japan** will be based in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Nashville SC training facility.
Every team's choice reflects a mix of logistics, climate, and comfort. Some want altitude training, others want beachside relaxation, and a few just want to be close to their fans. Whatever the reason, by June 11, they'll all be ready to play.