Spokane and Renton may host Team Base Camps

FIFA World Cup 2026 will be a truly statewide event– and the announcement that FIFA has selected Spokane’s Gonzaga University and Sounders’ Clubhouse in Renton as potential host locations for an international Team Basecamp underscores this commitment.  

Basecamps will be identified for all 48 participating teams in communities throughout North America, and additional sites could be identified in Washington. These locations will include lodging and practice facilities, as well as close access to air travel and other transportation facilities. The news that Gonzaga and Spokane will host a team over the course of the tournament was welcomed by local leaders.

"We are excited for the opportunity to host a FIFA World Cup 2026 team in Spokane,” said Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown. This announcement underscores Spokane's growing reputation as a sports destination city and a key part of the statewide efforts to welcome the world's game to communities throughout Washington. We look forward to the next steps in the planning process and the building anticipation as we get closer to the tournament." 

“The City of Renton is looking forward to welcoming visitors from around the world for FIFA World Cup 26,” said Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone. “Sports are a major part of Renton, as the home to the Seattle Seahawks headquarters on the shores of Lake Washington, and the new Seattle Sounders FC headquarters. We are proud to be home to a new world-class Sounders training facility, a perfect place for a premier team to call their home in 2026. Let’s go!”