Czechia and Sweden will call North Texas home during the World Cup.
All countries participating in the tournament will need a base camp. It’s the place where the players will live and train for the duration of the tournament.
Czechia will be based at the new Mansfield Stadium, and Sweden will be at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
Czcheia in Mansfield
The Czech Republic, which FIFA calls Czechia, will be stationed at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield.
The brand new $85 million facility still needs a fair amount of work. But local officials promised it will be ready by the time the team arrives in North Texas in the days leading up to the start of the tournament.
Czechia was one of the final teams to qualify for the World Cup after defeating Denmark on a penalty kick in one of the final qualifying matches on Tuesday.
This will be Czechia’s first World Cup appearance in 20 years.
The City of Mansfield says it’s going to make the city feel like Little Czechia
Tim Roberts, the Tourism Manager for the City of Mansfield, said he’s already sent out digital ads to Czechia now that the team is confirmed to hold their base camp there.
“Down in West. Central Texas. In Ennis, Texas we have a natural Czech group that has immigrated here over centuries, and a huge part of Texas history,” Roberts said.
Businesses in Mansfield are ready for an influx of Czech fans. The owner of Dirty Job Brewing in Mansfield is planning on adding a Czech lager to his selection before the World Cup.
“Czech people love beer,” Derek Hubenak, the owner of Dirty Job Brewing, told FOX 4’s Peyton Yager. “You will know everybody’s name in no time. You will not not meet a friend here.”
Bart McClung, the VP of Operations for On Deck Concepts, says the recently opened Boomerjacks in Mansfield will be the place to be to watch matches.
“They are going to be able to catch every single penalty kick, every goal, every replay. We have a 32 foot screen in there. They will not miss one single shot.”
Sweden in Frisco
Sweden also beat Poland on Tuesday and claimed FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium in Frisco as its base camp.
One of the players on the Swedish national team, Hermann Johansson, is also a midfielder for FC Dallas. So, he already calls Toyota Stadium home.
“To have the opportunity, if he is selected, on the final roster, to have his base camp where his home club is, that doesn’t happen very often in life,” said North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee Board Co-Chair Dan Hunt.
Sweden will face Japan in Arlington at AT&T Stadium for the group stage on June 25.
This will be Sweden’s 13th tournament appearance.
Local Reactions
Hunt said representatives from both Czechia and Sweden have already toured North Texas.
He’s excited for both teams and said North Texas is ready to welcome them.
“We’re prepared. I mean, the thing about it is, I think that was a big part of why FIFA pre-selected us as base camps, because both are first-class facilities in Frisco Stadium, and obviously in Mansfield Stadium. And, you know, we have, you know, such knowledge of the sport, and relationships with FIFA, relationships with a number of these federations,” Hunt said.
The organizing committee plans to work with the two teams over the coming weeks to make final accommodations and address all of their needs.
