FIFA World Cup 2026 Shares Teams’ “Homes Away from Home” cities include San Antonio

FIFA has released the first edition of the online Team Base Camp brochure for the FIFA World Cup 26™, highlighting potential training sites and accommodations for the 48 participating teams. This release marks a significant milestone in the buildup to the tournament, offering insights into where teams might establish their “homes away from home.” These bases will serve as the primary hubs for teams during the group stage, encompassing their training sites, accommodation, and travel logistics.

Expanding the Scope of the Tournament

Nine cities outside the 16 Host Cities have been identified as potential Team Base Camp locations, thereby broadening the tournament’s reach. This expansion includes:

– Chattanooga
– Cincinnati
– Green Bay
– Irvine
– Louisville
– St. Louis
– Salt Lake City
– San Antonio
– Westfield

San Antonio: A Potential Hub

San Antonio stands out as a prime candidate, with impressive facilities such as the San Antonio soccer stadium Toyota Field, and the S.T.A.R. Fields, paired with accommodations at the Kimpton Santo Hotel downtown San Antonio. These amenities ensure that any team choosing San Antonio will have access to top-notch training environments and comfortable lodging.

Detailed Match Schedule and Pathways to Glory

Alongside the Team Base Camp brochure, FIFA has also unveiled a more detailed version of the tournament’s match schedule. This updated schedule, which was initially revealed in February, now includes color-coding and outlines the possible pathways from the group stage to the final. This information is particularly valuable for the host nations – Canada, Mexico, and the USA – as it clarifies the routes they might need to navigate to reach the tournament’s climax.

The Importance of Team Base Camps

Heimo Schirgi, Chief Operating Officer World Cup, emphasized the significance of Team Base Camps: “Even if a city is not staging matches, a participating team coming to stay creates a strong personal bond with the competition for people locally. It will see them adopt their guests as a second team during the tournament, thereby connecting even more people to the FIFA World Cup.”

Future Developments

The current brochure showcases 24 high-grade locations, but the list will expand over the next 18 months to include additional sites across Canada, Mexico, and the USA. Teams will make their final selection of base camps following the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26, expected to take place in late 2025. This draw will provide critical information about the geographic zones for group matches, influencing teams’ final decisions on their base camps.

FIFA continues to accept expressions of interest from other cities and towns across the three host nations. This initiative ensures that even more communities can potentially participate in the World Cup experience. Updates to the brochure will be made in late 2024 and throughout 2025.

San Antonio’s inclusion in the list of potential Team Base Camps is a testament to its excellent facilities and readiness to host international teams. As the city gears up for the possibility of playing a significant role in the World Cup, local fans can look forward to the unique opportunity of supporting a “second team” and being part of this historic event.