World Cup squads finalize training sites across three countries as 2026 tournament logistics take shape

The biggest World Cup in history now has an address for every team. All 48 qualified squads finalized their Team Base Camp selections by May 25, with training sites spanning the United States, Mexico, and Canada ahead of the tournament’s June 11 kickoff.

The scale is staggering. FIFA confirmed 39 training sites across 19 US states, seven in Mexico, and two in Canada. That’s 48 teams, three host nations, and a tournament window stretching from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For context, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar had 32 teams in a country roughly the size of Connecticut. This is a different animal entirely.

Where the teams are setting up shop

The distribution tells you everything about where FIFA expects the center of gravity to be. With 39 of the 48 base camps on US soil, the tournament’s logistical backbone runs through America. The remaining camps split between Mexico and Canada, the co-hosts picking up seven and two sites respectively.

Several teams have opted for MLS-affiliated facilities. Argentina, for instance, selected the Sporting KC Training Centre as their base of operations.

This is the first World Cup held across three nations simultaneously. The tournament features 104 matches across 16 host cities.

The crypto angle: Kraken, Chiliz, and fan tokens enter the pitch

Kraken was appointed as FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, marking one of the most high-profile sponsorship deals between a crypto company and a global sporting body.

Chiliz and Avalanche have both been connected to fan engagement initiatives surrounding the tournament. For Kraken, the deal represents a chance to reach the World Cup’s global audience at a moment when the exchange is competing for market share against Coinbase and Binance.

What this means for investors

FIFA choosing to formalize a relationship with a crypto exchange signals that the governing body sees digital assets as a legitimate commercial category. Tokens associated with fan engagement platforms like Chiliz could see increased trading activity as the tournament progresses. The 2022 World Cup saw similar dynamics with fan tokens, and most of those gains evaporated once the final whistle blew.

Investors should watch whether Kraken’s FIFA partnership generates actual user acquisition or simply brand awareness. If the tournament successfully deploys blockchain-based fan experiences at scale, it could serve as a proof of concept for other major sporting events.

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