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FIFA has confirmed the team base camps for all 48 countries competing in the 2026 World Cup in North America. Each federation picked its base after weighing group-stage travel routes, local climate, travel distances and training facilities. South Korea plans to sharpen its tournament readiness with a detailed high-altitude acclimatization program.
On May 26 (Korea time), FIFA published the official list of base-camp training sites on its website. Since the tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, camps are spread across all three nations. Each team will run a central hub to handle training, recovery and rest throughout the event.
Of the 48 teams, a striking 39 chose base camps in the United States. Seven teams set up in Mexico — including South Korea and host Mexico, plus Colombia, South Africa, Tunisia, Uruguay and Iran. Only Canada and Panama established camps in Canada.
Iran’s shift in plans drew particular attention. The Iranian national team had initially planned to base in Tucson, Arizona, but ultimately moved to the Mexican border city of Tijuana. Diplomatic tensions with the U.S. and safety concerns tied to the aftermath of conflict influenced the decision.
At a regular press briefing, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the U.S. did not want Iran to be hosted on its soil, and that Mexico agreed to receive the team at FIFA’s request. The Iranian Football Federation noted that Tijuana is close to stadiums near Los Angeles and that entering the U.S. via Mexico eases visa-related hurdles.
Because South Korea will play all its group matches in Mexico, the team prioritized early adaptation to high-altitude conditions. Head coach Hong Myung-bo has established the squad’s main base at Chivas Verde Valle in Guadalajara. Guadalajara sits at roughly 1,570 meters (about 5,150 feet) above sea level, and Korea’s first two group games will be at comparable elevations.
Prior to that, the squad used Salt Lake City, Utah, as a pre-camp to stage its altitude adaptation training. Salt Lake City is also at high elevation — about 1,288 meters (roughly 4,226 feet) — a deliberate choice to limit fitness loss and breathing strain from sudden environmental shifts. Inside and outside the football community, analysts say Hong’s staff has put together one of the tournament’s most systematic altitude-preparation plans.
By contrast, the Czech Republic, Korea’s Group A opponent, chose the Mansfield Multipurpose Stadium near Dallas, Texas, as its base. Dallas is essentially at sea level, which could leave the Czechs at a disadvantage when adjusting to Mexico’s high-altitude venues.
At altitude, lower oxygen levels increase energy expenditure; failure to acclimate quickly can sap activity and focus. In tournaments with tight match schedules like the World Cup, environmental adaptation can become a decisive factor. Korea linked its pre-camp and base camp to create a smooth altitude-acclimatization progression, while the Czechs may face greater strain from travel and environmental shifts.
FIFA said base-camp assignments reflected considerations such as draw seeding, the number of host cities, travel routes and FIFA rankings. Heimo Sirgi, FIFA’s chief operating officer for the 2026 World Cup, said a team base camp is where squads train, recover and get into the rhythm of the tournament, and added that it will become a \”second home\” for teams during the World Cup.
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