As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws near, national squads from Argentina to Uzbekistan have locked in where they’ll bunk and train across the United States, Mexico and Canada. This piece walks through the known base camp choices — naming cities from Alexandria to Guadalajara and noting figures and images tied to the buildup, including “Trionda, the official match ball of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Mexico City, Mexico, on April 23, 2026. (Photo by Solrac Santiago/NurPhoto via Getty Images)” and a shot noting Erling Braut Haaland in Milan. The list covers confirmed bases for many teams and explains why those locations matter for preparation and travel during the tournament.

Base camps are the practical backbone of a long tournament: they provide training fields, recovery spaces and a controlled place to sleep between intense match days. Teams pick bases for a mix of factors — quality of facilities, climate, proximity to match venues and how smoothly logistics can be handled. Coaching staffs treat the camp as an extension of the club season, building routines that keep players sharp and rested. For countries traveling far, consistency at the base camp can cut down on travel fatigue during a packed schedule.

In the United States, squads have spread coast to coast, from California to North Carolina, often favoring professional training complexes and university facilities. Several European heavyweights chose central hubs that double as travel-friendly launch points: England, Argentina and the Netherlands are set around the Kansas City area, while France opted for Gillette Stadium facilities in Boston. Smaller nations leaned into quieter college towns or MLS and USL infrastructure that offers privacy and solid turf.

• Croatia — Alexandria, Virginia: Training site: Episcopal High School
• Saudi Arabia — Austin, Texas: Training site: Q2 Stadium / Austin FC facilities
• Curaçao — Boca Raton, Florida: Training site: FAU soccer complex
• France — Boston, Massachusetts: Training site: Gillette Stadium facilities
• Scotland — Charlotte, North Carolina: Training site: Charlotte FC complex
• Spain — Chattanooga, Tennessee: Training site: local professional facilities
• Ivory Coast — Chester, Pennsylvania: Training site: Subaru Park (Philadelphia Union)
• Ecuador — Columbus, Ohio: Training site: Columbus Crew facilities
• Norway — Greensboro, North Carolina: Training site: UNC Greensboro
• DR Congo — Houston, Texas: Training site: SaberCats Stadium
• United States — Irvine, California: Training site: Great Park Stadium
• Argentina — Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri
• England — Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri
• Netherlands — Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri: Training site: Sporting KC complex
• Algeria — Lawrence, Kansas: Training site: University of Kansas
• Czech Republic — Mansfield, Texas: Training site: regional complex
• Brazil — Morristown, New Jersey: Training site: private training facilities
• Senegal — New Brunswick, New Jersey: Training site: Rutgers University facilities
• Japan — Nashville, Tennessee: Training site: Nashville SC facility
• Australia — Oakland, California: Training site: Bay Area facilities
• Austria — Santa Barbara, California
• Qatar — Santa Barbara, California: Training site: UCSB facilities
• Switzerland — San Diego, California
• New Zealand — San Diego, California: Training site: Snapdragon Stadium complex
• Germany — Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Training site: Wake Forest University
• Belgium — Renton, Washington: Training site: Seattle Sounders FC Performance Center / Providence Swedish Performance Center & Clubhouse
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — Herriman, Utah: Training site: Real Salt Lake facilities
• Cabo Verde — Tampa, Florida: Training site: Waters Sportsplex
• Egypt — Spokane, Washington: Training site: Gonzaga University / Luger Field
• Ghana — Smithfield, Rhode Island: Training site: Bryant University
• Haiti — Galloway Township, New Jersey: Training site: Stockton University
• Iran — Tucson, Arizona: Training site: Kino Sports Complex
• Iraq — White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia: Training site: Greenbrier Sports Performance Center
• Jordan — Portland, Oregon: Training site: University of Portland
• Paraguay — San Jose, California: Training site: San Jose State University Spartan Soccer Complex
• Portugal — Palm Beach County, Florida: Training site: Gardens North County District Park
• Sweden — Frisco, Texas: Training site: FC Dallas Stadium / Toyota Stadium
• Türkiye — Mesa, Arizona: Training site: Arizona Athletic Grounds
• Uzbekistan — Marietta, Georgia: Training site: Atlanta United Training Center
• Morocco — Basking Ridge, New Jersey: Training site: The Pingry School

Across the border in Mexico, federations leaned into established club environments and tourism-ready training centers that also offer comfortable hotels and recovery amenities. South Korea and Colombia both set up in Guadalajara to use Estadio Akron and affiliated club facilities, a smart pick for teams playing matches nearby. Mexico’s own national team chose Mexico City with the Centro de Alto Rendimiento as its base, a traditional elite training hub.

• South Korea — Guadalajara: Training site: Estadio Akron
• Colombia — Guadalajara: Training site: Chivas / Liga MX facilities
• Uruguay — Playa del Carmen: Training site: Riviera Maya complex
• Mexico — Mexico City: Training site: Centro de Alto Rendimiento
• South Africa — Pachuca, Mexico: Training site: Universidad del Futbol
• Tunisia — Monterrey, Mexico: Training site: El Barrial / Rayados Training Centre

In Canada, a couple of camps have been announced with Panama choosing New Tecumseth, Ontario, and Canada centering on Vancouver and the National Soccer Development Centre. Those choices reflect a desire to combine national-team resources with Pacific-time access for venues in the Vancouver area. Coastal cities offer cool weather and professional facilities, and that appeals to teams trying to limit heat exposure during training blocks.

• Panama — New Tecumseth, Ontario: Training site: local training grounds
• Canada — Vancouver, British Columbia: Training site: National Soccer Development Centre

“TOPSHOT – Norway’s captain #09 Erling Braut Haaland celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Italy and Norway, at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, on November 16, 2025. (Pho”

Pictures and moments already tied to the 2026 build-up remind fans how global the tournament will feel: from trophy events in Dallas, as captured in “DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 26: The original trophy is seen at the FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour on April 26, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images),” to training images and player milestones abroad. Teams will continue to fine-tune travel corridors so they can be efficient on game day and keep recovery routines consistent. Expect more base camps to be announced as federations finalize logistics and hotel agreements.

“PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO – NOVEMBER 17: Luka Modric of Croatia following the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Montenegro and Croatia at Podgorica City Stadium on November 17, 2025 in Podgorica, Montenegro. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce – UE”