Why World Cup teams are setting up base camps in unexpected corners of the U.S.
While World Cup matches will take place in 16 big cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, teams will spend most of their time at base camps sprinkled around the continent — some in uncommon places, such as prep schools, college campuses and small cities with otherwise no ties to the five-week, 48-nation tournament.
FIFA is not planning to verify camp selections until the week of Feb. 9, but some teams have already announced their picks and many others reportedly have finalized plans.
Brazil said it has chosen Red Bull New York’s Major League Soccer training center under construction in northern New Jersey. Croatia will practice at a boarding school near Washington. Spain is planning to set up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while Norway chose Greensboro, North Carolina.
France is going to Boston and Portugal to Miami. Belgium seems set on Seattle, and South Korea announced Guadalajara, Mexico. Four teams, including England and reigning champion Argentina, want the Kansas City area, the Kansas City Star reported.
The U.S. team — which will play two of its three Group D matches in Greater Los Angeles — is expected to train full time in Southern California.
The scramble for long-term stays, interrupted by short-term visits to match locations, began last year as teams began qualifying for the World Cup. FIFA assembled a brochure of 64 options that included pro facilities in metro areas as well as off-beat places such as Boise, Idaho; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Spokane, Washington.
Federations also had the option of going off the board, though selections were subject to FIFA approval.
https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/article ... 00253.html
You can check out FIFA's brochure here. STL has two options for teams. (No word yet on if anyone selected those options.)
https://fwc26teambasecamps.fifa.com/#/tbc/