CHARLOTTE — Even without hosting a single match, North Carolina will play a visible role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.
Three European men’s national teams — Germany, Norway and Scotland — have selected cities across the state as their training bases, bringing an international presence to the Triad and Charlotte regions in the weeks leading up to and during the tournament.
The selections position the state as a key logistical hub for the expanded World Cup, which will kick off June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament, the first to feature 48 teams, will span 16 host cities, with the final set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Germany will be based in Winston-Salem, operating out of Wake Forest University. The four-time World Cup champions will train at W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium and reside at The Graylyn Estate, a 94-year-old boutique hotel on the National Register of Historic Places that sits 1.9 miles from the training facility.
Wake Forest athletic director John Currie said the university is ready for the moment.
“Wake Forest is proud to partner with Winston-Salem to serve as the German men’s national team’s home base during the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Currie said. “Hosting a four-time World Cup champion reflects the strength of our university soccer culture, which is truly world-class — most recently highlighted by our women’s program finishing as the 2024 NCAA runner-up and our men’s team capturing the 2024 ACC Championship.”
Germany will compete in Group E, opening play June 14 against Curaçao at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, before facing Ivory Coast on June 20 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, and Ecuador on June 25 at MetLife Stadium.
Norway will establish its base at UNC Greensboro, training at the school’s recently upgraded soccer stadium. The $3.6 million venue, originally opened in 1991 and renovated in 2024, features Bermuda-style grass, modern lighting, a video-capable scoreboard and seating for 3,540 spectators.
The site has previously hosted high-level professional training, including Brazil’s SE Palmeiras club during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, underscoring its readiness for international competition.
UNCG athletic director Brian Mackin said his department is prepared to meet Norway’s training needs.
“We are proud that Team Norway will prepare for the 2026 World Cup here at UNCG,” Mackin said. “Our athletics facilities and support teams are ready to deliver an elite training environment worthy of international competition.”
Norway is set to open Group I play June 16 against Iraq at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, followed by matches against Senegal on June 22 in East Rutherford and France June 26 back in Foxborough.
Over in the Queen City, Charlotte FC will host Scotland’s national team at its east Charlotte training facility, Atrium Health Performance Park. The 52,000-square-foot complex will serve as both the team’s headquarters and primary training site throughout the tournament.
“It is our honor to host the Scotland national team at our home for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, and we’re proud that our facility reflects the high standards of a nation competing on the world’s biggest stage,” Charlotte FC general manager Zoran Krneta said. “At Charlotte FC, we have built a high-performance training center that supports the day-to-day demands required for elite competition. Our facility ensures Scotland has every advantage as they set their sights on the world’s biggest prize, and we wish them all the success at the FIFA World Cup.”
Scotland will compete in Group C alongside Haiti, Morocco and Brazil, marking its return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1998. The team opens June 13 against Haiti at Gillette Stadium, remains there to face Morocco on June 19, and concludes group play June 24 against Brazil at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
While no World Cup matches are scheduled in North Carolina, Charlotte will still host a major international fixture ahead of the tournament. The United States men’s national team, which has selected Great Park in Irvine, California, as its home base, will face African champion Senegal in a pre-World Cup friendly on May 31 at Bank of America Stadium.
With teams spread across Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Charlotte, local communities are expected to see an influx of economic activity, media presence and fan engagement throughout the summer.
The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world, with an estimated 5 billion viewers in 2022, including more than 1.5 billion who watched the final between Argentina and France.
