Alexandria To Serve As FIFA World Cup 2026 Base Camp For Croatian Team

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria will serve as the official team base camp for the Croatia national football team during the FIFA World Cup 2026, local officials announced Tuesday.

Visit Alexandria, in partnership with the City of Alexandria, led the effort to secure this opportunity, according to a news release. Croatia, ranked among the top 10 teams by FIFA, will use Episcopal High School for its training facilities throughout the World Cup.

FIFA selected the United States, Canada and Mexico as joint hosts for the 2026 tournament — the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. The tournament will include 104 games, up from 64 from 1998 through 2022, and the 11 U.S. stadiums are all NFL homes with lucrative luxury suites and club seating.

Eight matches will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersery, including the final game. Play begins June 11.

Alexandria's location on the East Coast positions the team between its matches against Panama in Toronto on June 23 and Ghana in Philadelphia on June 27, following an earlier match in Dallas on June 17.

Alexandria's selection as a FIFA World Cup 2026 Team Base Camp follows its previous designation as a FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Team Base Camp for the United Arab Emirates team Al Ain FC. These decisions elevate Alexandria's status on the international sports map, showcasing it as an accessible destination for major sporting events, the Visit Alexandria release said.

"Alexandria is thrilled to welcome Croatia’s national football team to our vibrant city," Mayor Alyia Gaskins said.

Todd O’Leary, president & CEO of Visit Alexandria, credited the strong partnerships between Visit Alexandria, the City of Alexandria, and Episcopal High School for making the hosting of the international team possible.

Charles M. Stillwell, head of school at Episcopal High School, welcomed the team. "We are incredibly pleased to welcome the Vatreni, Croatia’s national football team, to Episcopal High School this summer as they prepare for the World Cup 2026," Stillwell said.