World Cup - who will cash-in on hosting base camps?
We've long known which 16 cities will be hosting games at the 2026 World Cup and on Saturday we will find out which particular games they will be hosting. But the coming days and weeks will determine an often under-considered aspect of hosting the biggest tournament in the world -- the venues for team base camps.
As the above map from FIFA shows - there are 64 communities in the United States and Mexico who made it on to the list of options for the teams. 42 national sides have qualified with six more countries to follow in March after the European and rest-of-the-world playoffs. The better organized teams have already scouted out their options with visits to the locations they prefer.
The term 'base camp' effectively comprises the facility that the teams will use to train before and during the tournament (including MLS stadiums/training facilities but also college facilities) and the nearby hotel where they will stay. But the impact on a local community (and the local economy) goes way beyond having 26 squad players and support staff from the federation moving in for the duration.
Where the team goes, the media will follow. For some of the bigger footballing nations that means a vast army of reporters, commentators, analysts, tv crews and production staff will also set up shop. They too will need hotels, restaurants, shops and other services to spend their per diems and expense accounts. The name of the chosen community will be mentioned hundreds of times a day in television and radio reports and all manner of content. Local sights will be used on B-roll and local residents will no doubt be asked to talk about hosting that country's stars. The value of the publicity generated is hard to understate. German, Brazilian and English fans will hear far more about their team's base camp community than most of the actual host cities where the games are played (ask the German spa resort of Baden-Baden about their experience with England in 2006).
"This would place Alameda on a global stage, drawing visitors, media attention, and fans from around the world," Kathy Weber, Executive Director of the Downtown Alameda Business Association said of her Californian community's bid.
Teams often partake in 'goodwill' events to break up the monotony of the training-hotel-training routine, meeting local schoolkids for example or visiting local community organizations. Some sponsors may activate in the base camp location for maximum media exposure.
Often players' wives, girlfriends and families will base themselves near the team hotel to take advantage of any free time for their loved ones. For some of the more fanatical countries, hundreds of fans will also pay a trip to be around their team and show their support in between games, bringing yet more business to these communities and transforming the atmosphere of often small towns for June and July.
In some cases, base camp options are close to the 16 host cities, adding to the value of the event as a whole. “Base camps from the beginning was a key factor for us," Monica Paul, president of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee told SportsTravel. "Knowing that you have the ability to have teams come five, 10, 15 days prior to the World Cup, to really make those cities and communities home — some have bigger traveling parties than others, but I think it’s a great way to involve as many of our regional cities as possible, as well as the economic impact that goes along with it.”
Friday's draw told us which teams will be placed in which groups and tomorrow (Saturday) FIFA will reveal the full schedule with kick-off times and locations for all games. Then the business of choosing a base camp will begin. Some federations may try to get an early advantage and secure their bookings as soon as possible but they have until January 30 to confirm their base camp location.
For some communities, their decisions could transform what June next year will be like for their communities and have an impact lasting well beyond the tournament.
The most recent list of team base camp options provided by FIFA is here.
After strong playoff numbers, MLS hopes for final boost
Saturday's MLS Cup final, which pits Lionel Messi and Inter Miami against Thomas Muller and the Vancouver Whitecaps will be broadcast on FOX nationally as well as Apple TV and the league are hoping that the presence of two international stars in their championship game will deliver a bumper audience.
Ahead of the game, the league released internal figures on their audiences during the post-season on Apple TV which were not behind the now departed MLS Season Pass paywall and the select games on Fox Sports.
The MLS Cup Playoffs saw a significant increase in viewership, averaging 711,000 viewers per match, which marks a 23% increase year-over-year across linear and streaming platforms, the league said. This trend follows a strong regular season, which averaged 3.7 million gross live match viewers per week, representing a 29% increase from 2024. The post-season numbers themselves show the benefits of moving away from the Season Pass subscription model -- a move which Don Garber in a speech on Friday called a 'no brainer'.
Garber's annual 'State of the League' address was given in D.C on Thursday, ahead of the World Cup draw rather than his usual practice of speaking at the venue for MLS Cup, and there were few major announcements from the MLS Commissioner.
Some media got excited that Garber said he would “never say never” regarding the introduction of promotion and relegation involving MLS. Well, yes, Garber did not completely rule out such a switch in the future but as some reporters recall, he has frequently taken the stance that at some vague stage in the future, a pro/rel system might possibly emerge, perhaps, but only if the team owners saw benefits in it. So, nothing to see here. MLS won't be adopting pro/rel with USL any time in the foreseeable future.
Garber signaled that the league may have "to make some tough decisions" regarding MLS Cup finalists Vancouver Whitecaps FC if the stadium issue at BC Place is not resolved. The Whitecaps’ lease expires at the end of 2025, and negotiations for a 2026 renewal have stalled. The league expects the city and province to deliver support for the team, which is currently enjoying on-field success. Six markets, including Detroit, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Indianapolis, and Edmonton, have reportedly monitored the situation for potential relocation. For the moment though, file this one under 'putting pressure' on the city.
U.S. Open Cup Format Adjustments for 2026
U.S. Soccer finalized the format and schedule for the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, reducing the tournament to seven rounds (one fewer than recent editions) specifically to avoid overlap with the FIFA Men’s World Cup™ calendar. The tournament field will feature 80 teams, including 32 amateur clubs and 48 professional teams (a reduction from 64 professional slots). Key rule changes include a one-club, one-entry rule requiring professional clubs to field their highest-level team. Division I teams from Major League Soccer (16 teams) will enter the competition in the Round of 32. The competition begins March 17–19 and concludes with the final slated for October 21. The winner will earn a berth in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
NWSL Union Files Grievance over Trinity Rodman Contract Veto
The NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) filed a grievance against the NWSL, alleging a “flagrant” violation of Trinity Rodman’s free agency rights after the league vetoed a proposed four-year, multi-million dollar deal between Rodman and the Washington Spirit, The Athletic reported. The proposed contract attempted to backload compensation into 2028 and 2029, years when the league's salary cap is expected to increase significantly (to over $4 million) following the current media rights deal expiration. The NWSL reportedly rejected the contract, citing the "spirit" of its competition rules and accusing the parties of "salary cap circumvention". The NWSLPA argues that the deal adheres to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and that a player's free agency rights supersede any inconsistent league rules.
USL Players Association Protest at Championship final
The USLPA staged a public protest at the USL Championship Final, demanding that the league implement "professional standards" before pursuing a promotion/relegation system and a new Division One.
Ahead of the USL Championship final, players from FC Tulsa and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds wore USLPA shirts displaying the message: “Pro Rel? Try Pro Standards First,” a sentiment also reflected on fan signs. The protest was a response to stalled negotiations for a new CBA, which is set to expire at the end of the year. The USLPA is fighting for improved working conditions, increased overall compensation, and employer-provided healthcare for players. The union argues that the league is prioritizing "Pro-Rel headlines" while players struggle to make "rent".
The current CBA sets a minimum monthly compensation of $2,600, which can be provided as a mix of salary, bonuses, health benefits, and housing allowance, though clubs are not obligated to provide housing or healthcare. The union is also seeking year-round contracts instead of the current contracts that only cover the 10 months players are with their clubs.
The USL is planning to integrate pro/rel and launch a new first-division league in 2028, which the union argues must be accompanied by fundamental professional standards. The USLPA's fight has received support from other major North American player unions.
USL Club Delay Launch
Fort Lauderdale United FC adjusted the launch of its Men’s USL League One team to Spring 2027, delaying their launch by a year. The club views the delay as crucial for strengthening its long-term foundation, implementing elite development systems, and building a strong performance culture to support its two professional teams from day one. As part of this effort, FTL UTD is preparing to open a new, first-class training and performance facility on the campus of Nova Southeastern University. This complex will serve as the year-round hub for player development. Reports suggest that the new Eugene expansion team will also opt to hold off their launch by a year.
On the expansion front, USL announced that Lakeland United FC in Florida will join USL League Two for the 2026 season. Founded in 2020, Lakeland United is a bridge program allowing domestic and international players the ability to train and play together as they work toward earning collegiate soccer opportunities. In addition to its athletic program, the club also facilitates academic programs for its students. Since the 2021 season, Lakeland United has competed in the UPSL and is a four-time Premier Division Florida West Conference Tournament Champion. Hickory FC from North Carolina and Greeley, Colorado will also join League Two. (USL)
OKC unveil stadium plan
Plans were released this week for the new stadium in Oklahoma City which will be used by a new USL club.Populous’ concept features a canopy-covered bowl, programmable LED façade and an open north end framing OKC’s skyline. The stadium will anchor a new walkable district developed by Echo Investment Capital, connecting Bricktown and the Convention Center. Echo will operate the venue as part of the OKC For Soccer | OKC es Fútbol movement. Beyond soccer, the stadium is designed for football, youth sports, concerts and civic events. Full details here.
You can listen to Court Jeske of OKC for Soccer talk about the vision in our recent podcast:
Houston secures two local World Cup partners
The World Cup hosting and sponsorship framework leaves room for local deals and Houston has been one of the more active host cities in securing local partnerships with the Houston Host Committee for the FIFA World Cup 26 has recently secured major investment and sponsorship deals centered on community development and sustainability. Airbnb announced an investment exceeding $1 million into the Houston community alongside the Host Committee—the company's largest investment in the community to date. These funds are dedicated to supporting the development of a new Green Corridor to expand sustainable initiatives.
In related news, Aramco was announced as an Official Houston World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter. Aramco is already a Major Worldwide Partner of FIFA for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Building on its global partnership, Aramco's local support is focused on creating programs and initiatives intended to leave a lasting legacy for the Houston community, where the company has a relationship dating back over 50 years. Houston is scheduled to host seven matches during the 2026 tournament.
