World Cup teams descend on North America ahead of June 11 kickoff

Brazil landed in New Jersey on Tuesday, joining Argentina in Kansas City and England in Florida as teams settle into base camps ahead of the June 11 opener.yahoo
The expanded 48-team tournament spans 16 stadiums across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, with 39 of the participating nations based in the United States.fifa
Iran will stay in Tijuana, Mexico, commuting to U.S. matches on game days after Washington refused to host the team, according to CNN.cnn

World Cup Teams Arrive in US as Tournament Nears

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off on June 11, national teams from around the globe are descending on North America, transforming training facilities across the United States into temporary homes for the world’s best footballers.

Defending Champions and Contenders Settle In

Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, arrived in Kansas City on May 31 with Lionel Messi and his teammates setting up camp at the Sporting KC Training Centre. England’s squad has been training in Florida under manager Thomas Tuchel since June 1, with sessions captured at their pre-tournament base ahead of a friendly against Costa Rica scheduled for June 10 in Orlando. Brazil touched down at Newark International Airport in New Jersey on June 2, where they will be based at the Columbia Park Training Facility throughout the group stage.youtube

The Kansas City metro area has emerged as a base camp hub, hosting four national teams: Argentina, England, the Netherlands, and Algeria, each utilizing facilities across the two-state region.sportingkc

Historic Firsts and Diplomatic Complexities

Cape Verde, one of four nations making their World Cup debut, will train at the Waters SportsPlex in Tampa, the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ training facility. The tiny African archipelago qualified for their first World Cup after a 3-0 victory over Eswatini in October 2025 and is drawn in Group H alongside Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay.aljazeera

Iran’s preparations have been shaped by geopolitics. After FIFA approved a request to relocate from Arizona, the team will base itself in Tijuana, Mexico, crossing into the United States only on match days. According to a statement released Wednesday, Iran’s squad will depart Antalya, Turkey, for Tijuana on Saturday, June 6, arriving early Sunday morning. The move followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks discouraging the team from attending, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s subsequent offer to host them.pbs

A Tournament Takes Shape

In total, 39 of the 48 participating teams have established base camps across the United States, with seven in Mexico and two in Canada. The tournament — the first to feature 48 teams — will be played across 16 stadiums in three countries, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.fifa