Base Camp Locations an Underrated Part of 2026 FIFA World Cup

For each of the 11 U.S. host cities ahead of next summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, anticipation is building toward the matches, the economic impact, the worldwide tourism and the upcoming draw to determine which teams will come to town.

But dozens of other destinations could see one or more of the 48 national teams use their areas for base camps to train and stay throughout the tournament as well.

A total of 62 options are available across three countries with the vast majority of them in the United States. Once the draw is announced, national teams will be able to review the list and select one of those options as their home base.

Some regions have more potential base camp options than others. The Dallas area, for example, has six base camp options.

“Base camps from the beginning was a key factor for us,” said Monica Paul, president of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee. “Knowing that you have the ability to have teams come five, 10, 15 days prior to the World Cup, to really make those cities and communities home — some have bigger traveling parties than others, but I think it’s a great way to involve as many of our regional cities as possible, as well as the economic impact that goes along with it.”

In the Atlanta region, available sites for countries include the Atlanta United Training Center and Kennesaw State University.

“We love the idea of Atlanta serving as a centerpiece for either the southeast region or quite honestly, for the whole U.S. and North America, because of the reach of our airport,” Metro Atlanta Chamber President Katie Kirkpatrick said.

Each of the training sites in the FIFA Brochure also includes a partner hotel where the team parties would stay. There is also the added potential of a country’s fans staying near wherever the team’s base camp is located, another attraction for Atlanta.

“We want fans to base camp in Atlanta,” Kirkpatrick said. “Whether or not your team is going to be playing at Atlanta Stadium, as it will be called, we want them to enjoy what the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta has to offer while they may be going to other places. We believe we are positioned in such a way that you can access North America from Atlanta and stay and enjoy what we have to offer.”

Kansas City is the sole Midwest host city, which could bring locational advantages for the two KC base camp options as well as two in St. Louis, where fans could to stay in the region and then travel to the South and East regions for games.

“One of the strengths of our bid was our facilities in that they already existed,” said Pam Kramer, the Kansas City Host Committee CEO. “Our facilities are second to none, and our facility owners are terrific operators.”

Then there is the affirmation that investing in these training facilities for local Major League Soccer clubs has provided an additional benefit to the community. The Philadelphia region has a base camp option in Atlantic City but also the Philadelphia Union’s training facility in Chester, which along with the stadium has been part of a broader local investment.

“The Philadelphia Union have been an incredible partner in our work around FIFA World Cup,” said Philadelphia Host City Executive Meg Kane. “What that ownership group has built, what Tim McDermott and Dave DeBusschere deliver in a fan experience at Subaru Park, is incredible. I would be over the moon delighted if Subaru Park was selected as team base camp. I think the more soccer that’s happening, the better. The more people can feel it, the better.”

FIFA World Cup 26 Available Team Base Camps

City, Training Site, Paired Hotel
Alexandria, Virginia: Episcopal High School, Hotel AKA, Alexandria
Atlanta: Atlanta United Training Centre, JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead
Atlanta: Kennesaw State University, InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta
Atlantic City, New Jersey: Stockton University, Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel
Birmingham, Alabama: Birmingham Legion FC Training Facility, Hyatt Regency, The Wynfrey
Boca Raton, Florida: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center
Boise, Idaho: Boise State University, To Be Determined
Chapel Hill, North Carolina: UNC Chapel Hill, Sheraton Chapel Hill
Chattanooga, Tennessee: Baylor School, The Read House
Cincinnati: FC Cincinnati, Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel
Colorado Springs, Colorado: US Air Force Academy, Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy
Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina, Marriott Columbia
Columbus, Ohio: Columbus Crew Performance Centre, Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph
Dallas: Dallas Baptist University, Westin Dallas Downtown
Dallas: FC Dallas Stadium, Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West
Dallas: University of Dallas, Omni Las Colinas Hotel
Dallas-Denton: University of North Texas, Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center
Dallas-Fort Worth: TCU, Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel
Dallas-Mansfield: Mansfield Multipurpose Stadium, Hilton Garden Dallas-Arlington South
Detroit: Oakland University, Detroit Marriott Troy
Greenbrier County, West Virginia: The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center, Greenbrier Resort
Greensboro, North Carolina: UNC Greensboro, Grandover Resort & Spa, A Wyndham Grand Hotel
Guadalajara, Mexico: Academia Atlas FC, Grand Fiesta Americana Country Club
Guadalajara, Mexico: Chivas Verde Valle, Hard Rock Hotel Guadalajara
Herriman, Utah: RSL Training Centre, RSL Training Academy Residence
High Point, North Carolina: Carolina Core Elite Performance Centre, Kimpton Cardinal
Houston: Houston Sports Park, Omni Houston Hotel
Irvine, California: Great Park Sports Complex, Marriott Irvine Spectrum
Kansas City: KC Current Training Facility, Hotel Kansas City – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Kansas City: Sporting KC Training Centre, Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center
Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University, To Be Determined
Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas, Stonehill Lawrence, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
Louisville: Louisville City, Omni Louisville Hotel
Macon, Georgia: Mercer University, Macon Marriott City Center
Mesa, Arizona: Arizona Athletic Grounds, Courtyard Mesa at Wrigleyville West
Mexico City: Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR), On-site accommodation (CAR)
Mexico City: La Nueva Casa del Futbol – Toluca, DoubleTree by Hilton Toluca
Monterrey, Mexico: Rayados Training Centre, The Westin Monterrey Valle
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Coastal Carolina University, The Ellie Beach Resort
New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University, Delta Hotels Somerset
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: OKC Professional Soccer Training Facility, Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma, Renaissance Oklahoma City Downtown Bricktown Hotel
Orlando, Florida: Orlando City SC Training Grounds at Osceola Heritage Park, Lake Nona Wave Hotel
Pachuca, Mexico: CF Pachuca – Estadio Hidalgo, Fiesta Inn Pachuca Gran Patio
Pachuca, Mexico: CF Pachuca – Universidad Del Futbol, Camino Real Pachuca
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida: Gardens North County District Park, PGA National Resort
Philadelphia: Philadelphia Union, Hotel Du Pont
Portland, Oregon: University of Portland, The Nines Hotel
Port St. Lucie, Florida: RPS Soccer Academy, Sandpiper Bay Resort
Queretaro, Mexico: La Loma Centro Deportivo Queretaro, Hacienda Jurica by Brisa
Renton, Washington: Seattle Sounders FC Performance Centre and Clubhouse, Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle’s Southport
San Antonio, Texas: San Antonio Stadium, Kimpton Santo Hotel
Santa Barbara, California: UC Santa Barbara Harder Stadium, To Be Determined
Santa Barbara, California: Westmont College, To Be Determined
State College, Pennsylvania: Penn State University, The Penn Stater Hotel
Spokane, Washington: Gonzaga University, To Be Determined
St. Louis: St. Louis CITY High Performance Centre, The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza St. Louis
St. Louis: Saint Louis University, Magnolia Hotel St. Louis
Tampa, Florida: Waters Sportsplex, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
Tucson, Arizona: Kino Sports Complex, Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa
Torreón, Mexico: Club Santos Facilities, Hotel Azul Talavera Country Club
Westfield, Indiana: Grand Park Sports Campus, Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel