Defending champions Argentina and England will both base themselves in Kansas City as FIFA finalizes team base camps for the record 48‑team 2026 World Cup. Most squads will be U.S.-based (39), with seven in Mexico and two in Canada — a layout that will sharply shape travel plans, recovery windows and fan access across the tournament.
2026 World Cup team base camps announced: who’s where and why it matters
The full list of 2026 World Cup team base camps has been released, confirming where each of the 48 nations will train, rest and regroup during the tournament. With 39 teams based in the United States, seven in Mexico and two in Canada, organizers have concentrated infrastructure in U.S. venues while using Mexico and Canada to ease regional travel and political constraints.
Key implications
Having Argentina and England both in Kansas City creates a likely focal point for top-level practice matches, media attention and visiting supporters. The geographic clustering reduces long-haul travel for many teams but also intensifies demands on certain host cities’ facilities and accommodations. Mexico’s decision to host Iran in Tijuana circumvents U.S. visa hurdles and underscores the tournament’s complex logistical and diplomatic dimensions.
Teams based in the United States (39)
Algeria — Kansas City (University of Kansas)
Argentina — Kansas City (Sporting KC Training Centre)
Australia — San Francisco Bay Area (Oakland Roots/Soul facility)
Austria — Goleta, CA (UC Santa Barbara)
Belgium — Renton, WA (Seattle Sounders performance centre)
Bosnia and Herzegovina — Sandy, UT (RSL Stadium)
Brazil — New York–New Jersey (Columbia Park Training Facility)
Côte d’Ivoire — Philadelphia (Philadelphia Union)
Congo DR — Houston (Houston Training Centre)
Cabo Verde — Tampa, FL (Waters Sportsplex)
Croatia — Alexandria (Episcopal High School)
Curaçao — Boca Raton, FL (Florida Atlantic University)
Czechia — Dallas (Mansfield Multipurpose Stadium)
Ecuador — Columbus, OH (Columbus Crew Performance Centre)
Egypt — Spokane, WA (Gonzaga University)
England — Kansas City (Swope Soccer Village)
Spain — Chattanooga, TN (Baylor School)
France — Boston (Bentley University)
Germany — Winston‑Salem, NC (Wake Forest University)
Ghana — Boston (Bryant University)
Haiti — New York–New Jersey (Stockton University)
Iraq — Greenbrier, WV (Greenbrier Sports Performance Centre)
Jordan — Portland (University of Portland)
Japan — Nashville, TN (Nashville SC facility)
Saudi Arabia — Austin, TX (Austin FC Stadium)
Morocco — New York–New Jersey (Pingry School)
Netherlands — Kansas City (KC Current Training Facility)
Norway — Greensboro, NC (UNC Greensboro)
New Zealand — San Diego (University of San Diego – Torero Stadium)
Paraguay — San Francisco Bay Area (Spartan Soccer Complex)
Portugal — Palm Beach Gardens (Gardens North County District Park)
Qatar — Santa Barbara, CA (Westmont College)
Scotland — Charlotte, NC (Charlotte FC facility)
Senegal — New York–New Jersey (Rutgers University)
Switzerland — San Diego (SDJA)
Sweden — Dallas (FC Dallas Stadium)
Türkiye — Mesa, AZ (Arizona Athletic Grounds)
United States — Irvine (Great Park Sports Complex)
Uzbekistan — Atlanta (Atlanta United Training Centre)
Teams based in Mexico (7)
Colombia — Guadalajara (Academia Atlas FC)
Iran — Tijuana (Centro Xoloitzcuintle)
South Korea — Guadalajara (Chivas Verde Valle)
Mexico — Mexico City (Centro de Alto Rendimiento)
South Africa — Pachuca (Universidad Del Futbol)
Tunisia — Monterrey (Rayados Training Centre)
Uruguay — Cancún (Mayakoba Training Centre Cancun)
Teams based in Canada (2)
Canada — Vancouver (National Soccer Development Centre)
Panama — New Tecumseth (Nottawasaga Training Site)
Why base camps matter — tactical, physical and fan angles
Base camps are where tournament preparation is made or broken. Training pitch quality, recovery facilities and proximity to match venues all influence player freshness over a condensed schedule. Teams placed close to their match venues minimize travel fatigue; those clustered in the same city — notably Kansas City and New York–New Jersey — will face intense facility scheduling pressure but benefit from elite local resources.
From a fan perspective, concentrated placements make it easier for supporters to follow their teams during the group stage and arrange training‑ground visits. For tournament planners, the distribution reflects a balance between stadium locations, infrastructure readiness and geopolitical realities.
Notable placements and competitive edge
Argentina and England training side‑by‑side in Kansas City sets up an early non‑match narrative about which environment best serves elite squads. New York–New Jersey hosting several high-profile teams gives those squads straightforward access to media markets and international travel. Mexico’s role in accommodating Iran highlights how host nations can solve diplomatic and logistical hurdles to keep the tournament functioning smoothly.
What to watch next
Monitor how host cities handle accommodation, training schedules and local transportation as team arrivals begin. Expect Kansas City and New York–New Jersey to become hubs of pre‑match activity, with potential ripple effects on local economies and fan experience.
Thomas Müller led Vancouver’s ultimate team performance to send his side into the World Cup break
The base camp map offers an early hint at which teams will enjoy logistical advantages — and which will need meticulous travel planning to stay sharp.
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