Birmingham among candidates for FIFA World Cup 26 team base camp host city

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) — The city of Birmingham is being considered for a FIFA World Cup 26 Team Base Camp host city.

FIFA released the second wave of potential Team Base Camps Thursday, November 21 in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 26™.

FIFA said base camp cities would offer participating teams a variety of “homes away from home” for the tournament.

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The training site would be at the Birmingham Legion FC Training Facility and the team hotel would be Hyatt Regency – The Wynfrey.

These hubs will serve as the primary base for teams during the group stage, where they will train, rest and prepare for their matches.

Some other surrounding cities being considered are Chattanooga, Macon, Orlando, Tampa, Columbia, and Chapel Hill.

FIFA said the list marks a significant expansion, offering a diverse range of facilities across the tournament’s footprint.

Teams are expected to submit their final selections following the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26.

FIFA said the draw, anticipated to be staged in December 2025, will reveal the geographic zones in which teams will play their group matches, further guiding their decisions regarding their respective Team Base Camp locations.

Plans to further expand the list are expected throughout 2025, with additional options to be included in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.