GatewayRedbirds.com

Why World Cup teams are setting up base camps in unexpected corners of the U.S.

While World Cup matches will take place in 16 big cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, teams will spend most of their time at base camps sprinkled around the continent — some in uncommon places, such as prep schools, college campuses and small cities with otherwise no ties to the five-week, 48-nation tournament.

FIFA is not planning to verify camp selections until the week of Feb. 9, but some teams have already announced their picks and many others reportedly have finalized plans.

Brazil said it has chosen Red Bull New York’s Major League Soccer training center under construction in northern New Jersey. Croatia will practice at a boarding school near Washington. Spain is planning to set up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while Norway chose Greensboro, North Carolina.

France is going to Boston and Portugal to Miami. Belgium seems set on Seattle, and South Korea announced Guadalajara, Mexico. Four teams, including England and reigning champion Argentina, want the Kansas City area, the Kansas City Star reported.

The U.S. team — which will play two of its three Group D matches in Greater Los Angeles — is expected to train full time in Southern California.

The scramble for long-term stays, interrupted by short-term visits to match locations, began last year as teams began qualifying for the World Cup. FIFA assembled a brochure of 64 options that included pro facilities in metro areas as well as off-beat places such as Boise, Idaho; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Spokane, Washington.

Federations also had the option of going off the board, though selections were subject to FIFA approval.

https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/article ... 00253.html

'This could only exist in America': What are foreign football fans finding in the US?

Ayoub Baghdad has only just arrived in the US to follow his home team in the World Cup. But already he's been stunned by one big thing - and it's not at all related to football - the sheer size of basically everything in the States. "Everything is big, even the Coke is big," Baghdad says, referring to the carbonated beverage. He has found the roads, trucks, and buildings to be much larger than anything he's used to seeing back home in Morocco.

About 75% of the 2026 Fifa World Cup matches are being played in the US with Mexico and Canada sharing the remainder. With that comes more international fans in the US keen to explore American culture, landscape and all the country's oddities. It's made for viral videos on social media, with foreign football fans trying everything from Waffle House and finding a new obsession in ranch dressing to being blown away by giant supermarkets and large restaurant portions.

The preoccupation with sizes, in particular, was something many international fans remarked about when interviewed by the BBC about their reflections on visiting America.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgj731r38xo

cardinalkarp wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:49 am

Have they also noticed the size of the people?

CardsofSTL wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:53 am

cardinalkarp wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:49 am

Have they also noticed the size of the people?

Don't body shame

cardinalkarp wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:58 am

CardsofSTL wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:53 am

cardinalkarp wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:49 am

Have they also noticed the size of the people?

Don't body shame

Not facing the facts doesn’t solve the problem. Highlighting the excess and gluttonous nature of the US and not looking at the effects is doing no one any favors

Now…back to the WC discussion

cardinalkarp wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:58 am

CardsofSTL wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:53 am

cardinalkarp wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:49 am

Have they also noticed the size of the people?

Don't body shame

Not facing the facts doesn’t solve the problem. Highlighting the excess and gluttonous nature of the US and not looking at the effects is doing no one any favors

Now…back to the WC discussion

CardsofSTL wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 4:22 pm

cardinalkarp wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:58 am

CardsofSTL wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:53 am

cardinalkarp wrote: ↑

June 23 26, 10:49 am

Have they also noticed the size of the people?

Don't body shame

Not facing the facts doesn’t solve the problem. Highlighting the excess and gluttonous nature of the US and not looking at the effects is doing no one any favors

Now…back to the WC discussion

I was joking. But also don't body shame.

I ran into a big group of the Ecuador faithful at the Negro Leagues Hall of Fame in KC. They were having a great time; it was a fun vibe all over the city.