Germany announce 2026 FIFA World Cup headquarters

Germany will be based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer, the DFB have announced.

Julian Nagelsmann's side will set up camp at the Graylyn Estate Hotel, a near 100-year-old former private estate located just a few minutes from Wake Forest University, where the four-time World Cup winners will hold their training sessions.

The Germany boss is delighted to have found a peaceful, spacious facility for the tournament, which gets under way on 11 June. “We have three football pitches in very, very good condition, all of which meet our requirements,” said Nagelsmann, who inspected the complex in person following the World Cup group-stage draw last month.

“The most important thing from the coach’s and players’ perspective is the proximity to the pitches," he continued. “Because of the size of the USA, we’re going to be travelling long distances and, if possible, want to avoid doing so on a daily basis. Our base camp is ideal in that regard.”

The DFB’s managing director for sport Andreas Rettig echoed Nagelsmann’s sentiments, describing Germany’s base as a “dream scenario”. “The facilities are ideal, both from a sporting and infrastructural perspective,” added the 62-year-old.

The fifth biggest city in North Carolina in terms of population, Winston-Salem is around an hour’s drive from Charlotte airport, which offers direct flights to Houston, Toronto and New Jersey - the cities hosting Germany’s group stage matches.

Germany travel to the US on 2 June before taking on the USMNT in a friendly in Chicago on 6 June. After kicking off their tournament against Curaçao in Houston on 14 June, Nagelsmann’s charges face Ivory Coast in Toronto six days later before rounding off Group E against Ecuador in East Rutherford.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann inspected the facility himself after last month's group-stage draw. - IMAGO/DFB/Wake Forest Athletics/M.i.S.