How do soccer associations choose a training base for their national teams for a major international tournament such as the 2026 World Cup?

Is it all about facilities? How much does cost factor into the equation? Or how high on the list of priorities is limiting travel to and from games, especially in vast host nations such as the United States, Mexico and Canada?

Whatever the selection criteria, all 48 nations’ choices have been locked in for quite some time, and teams are slowly beginning to make their way to their new homes for the next few weeks.

World Cup 2026 base camps

Here is where each country will be based throughout its stay at the 2026 World Cup.

Group A

• Mexico - Mexico City, Mexico (Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR))
• South Africa - Pachuca, Mexico (Universidad del Futbol y Ciencias del Deporte)
• South Korea - Guadalajara, Mexico (Chivas Verde Valle)
• Czechia - Mansfield, Texas, USA (Mansfield Multipurpose Stadium)

Group B

• Canada - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (National Soccer Development Centre)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - Sandy, Utah, USA (RSL Stadium)
• Switzerland - San Diego, California, USA (San Diego Jewish Academy)
• Qatar - Montecito/Santa Barbara, California, USA (Westmont College)

Group C

• Brazil - Basking Ridge, New Jersey, USA (Columbia Park Training Facility)
• Morocco - Basking Ridge, New Jersey, USA (The Pingry School)
• Scotland - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA (Charlotte FC Training Base)
• Haiti - Galloway, New Jersey, USA (Stockton University)

Group D

• United States - Irvine, California, USA (Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium)
• Turkey (Türkiye) - Mesa, Arizona, USA (Arizona Athletic Grounds)
• Australia - Alameda, California, USA (Oakland Roots/Soul Training Facility)
• Paraguay - San Jose, California, USA (Spartan Soccer Complex, San Jose State University)

Group E

• Germany - Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA (Wake Forest University)
• Ivory Coast - Chester, Pennsylvania, USA (Philadelphia Union Training Centre)
• Ecuador - Columbus, Ohio, USA (OhioHealth Performance Center)
• Curaçao - Boca Raton, Florida, USA (Florida Atlantic University)

Group F

• Netherlands - Kansas City, Missouri, USA (KC Current Training Facility)
• Japan - Antioch, Tennessee, USA (Nashville SC Training Centre)
• Sweden - Frisco, Texas, USA (Toyota Stadium (FC Dallas))
• Tunisia - Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico (Rayados Training Centre)

Group G

• Belgium - Renton, Washington, USA (Seattle Sounders FC Performance Centre)
• Egypt - Spokane, Washington, USA (Gonzaga University)
• Iran - Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (Centro Xoloitzcuintle)
• New Zealand - San Diego, California, USA (University of San Diego (Torero Stadium))

Group H

• Spain - Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA (Baylor School)
• Uruguay - Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico (Mayakoba Training Centre)
• Saudi Arabia - Austin, Texas, USA (Q2 Stadium)
• Cape Verde - Tampa, Florida, USA (Waters Sportsplex)

Group I

• France - Waltham, Massachusetts, USA (Bentley University / Four Seasons Boston)
• Senegal - New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA (Rutgers University)
• Norway - Greensboro, North Carolina, USA (UNC Greensboro)
• Iraq - White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, USA (The Greenbrier Sports Performance Centre)

Group J

• Argentina - Kansas City, Kansas, USA (Sporting KC Training Centre)
• Algeria - Lawrence, Kansas, USA (University of Kansas)
• Austria - Goleta, California, USA (UC Santa Barbara (Harder Stadium))
• Jordan - Portland, Oregon, USA (University of Portland)

Group K

• Portugal - Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA (Gardens North County District Park)
• DR Congo - Houston, Texas, USA (SaberCats Stadium, Houston Sports Park)
• Colombia - Guadalajara, Mexico (Academia Atlas FC)
• Uzbekistan - Marietta, Georgia, USA (Atlanta United Training Centre)

Group L

• England - Kansas City, Missouri, USA (Swope Soccer Village)
• Croatia - Alexandria, Virginia, USA (Episcopal High School)
• Ghana - Providence, Rhode Island, USA (Bryant University)
• Panama - New Tecumseth, Ontario, Canada (Nottawasaga Training Site)

Most teams picked the United States

Of the 48 teams, 39 have opted for a base camp in the United States, with seven in Mexico and only two in Canada.

The odd ones out are:

Mexico

• Mexico – Mexico City (Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR))
• South Africa – Pachuca (Universidad del Futbol y Ciencias del Deporte)
• South Korea – Guadalajara (Chivas Verde Valle)
• Tunisia – Monterrey (Rayados Training Centre)
• Iran – Tijuana (Centro Xoloitzcuintle)
• Uruguay – Playa del Carmen (Mayakoba Training Centre)
• Colombia – Guadalajara (Academia Atlas FC)

Canada

• Canada – Vancouver, British Columbia (National Soccer Development Centre)
• Panama – New Tecumseth, Ontario (Nottawasaga Training Site)

Iran’s late change

Iran stand out because they will play all three of their Group G games in the United States, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, yet will be based in Tijuana, Mexico.

The Iranians had been due to stay in Tucson, Arizona, but moved south of the border because of the ongoing military conflict between the United States and Iran.

In March, President Trump said the following about Iran’s participation in the World Cup on American soil:

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

Iran’s request to have its three group-stage games moved to Mexico was denied by FIFA, which did, however, approve the team’s late base camp switch.

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