February 17, 2026
Alexandria, Virginia to Serve as Team Base Camp for Croatia National Football Team ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™
Soccer Fans Can Stay in the Same City Where Team Croatia Trains and Easily Reach Matches Across the Eastern U.S. and Canada
CONTACT: Andrew Postal, apostal@visitalexva.com, 703-652-5363
Alexandria, VA (February 17, 2026) – Alexandria, Virginia continues to make waves on the world stage, especially as a destination for sports tourism. The Croatia national football team, one of the world’s top 10-ranked teams according to FIFA, has selected Alexandria as their official Team Base Camp for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The result of an effort spearheaded by Visit Alexandria in partnership with the City of Alexandria, Croatia will stay and train in Alexandria as their home base throughout their time in the World Cup, using Episcopal High School as their Team Base Camp for training. Alexandria’s central East Coast location places the team between key matches against Panama in Toronto on June 23 and Ghana in Philadelphia on June 27, with an earlier match in Dallas on June 17.
With state-of-the-art facilities, a wide range of accommodations, a wealth of visitor experiences, and incredible transportation access, Alexandria’s prominence in sports tourism has been growing. Recent wins including the city’s designation as the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ Team Base Camp for the United Arab Emirates team Al Ain FC and now Alexandria’s selection as a FIFA World Cup 2026™ Team Base Camp further elevates the destination on the international sports map, highlighting the city as a welcoming, accessible destination for sporting events.
“Alexandria is thrilled to welcome Croatia’s national football team to our vibrant city,” said Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins. “Our strategic location near matches across the Eastern U.S. and Canada is complemented by our unique brand of hospitality and experiences that I’m certain the Croatian team and FIFA fans from around the world will enjoy. I’m proud of the team at Visit Alexandria, and each of our partners throughout our community who helped secure this prestigious opportunity.”
Located on the Potomac River, just minutes from Washington, D.C., Alexandria invites soccer fans from around the world to stay in and experience the destination, to enjoy a relaxed alternative to big crowds, while remaining close to the action.
Named a Top 5 Best U.S. City by Travel + Leisure in 2025 and Top 3 Best U.S. Small City by Condé Nast Traveler in 2025, Alexandria is a walkable, welcoming getaway nationally recognized for its modern amenities, cosmopolitan feel and vibrant history: a perfect backdrop for traveling fans with hundreds of independent restaurants and boutiques, a dynamic arts and culture scene and intimate historic sites, creating a distinctive and memorable World Cup experience.
“We are honored to welcome Croatia to Alexandria as their Team Base Camp for the World Cup 2026,” said Todd O’Leary, President & CEO of Visit Alexandria. “This major win for Alexandria would not have been possible without the strong partnerships between Visit Alexandria, the City of Alexandria and Episcopal High School. We can’t wait to welcome the Croatian team and soccer fans from around the world to our city as part of this global sporting event.”
“We are incredibly pleased to welcome the Vatreni, Croatia’s national football team, to Episcopal High School this summer as they prepare for the World Cup 2026. It is an honor to be selected as one of the exclusive official training sites in North America for this prestigious global tournament, and we are incredibly fortunate to have facilities that draw top-tier professional and national teams. This partnership feels especially fitting given Episcopal’s 130+ year history of welcoming students from across the globe; hosting a team for World Cup training is a natural extension of our long-standing commitment to being a home for international excellence and cultural exchange. Alexandria is an incredible city, well-known for its warmth and hospitality, and I am certain these players and others affiliated with the team will truly enjoy their time here,” said Charles M. Stillwell, Head of School, Episcopal High School.
View the Croatia national team announcement here.
Download high-resolution photos here.
ABOUT VISIT ALEXANDRIA AND ALEXANDRIA, VA
Visit Alexandria is the not-for-profit destination marketing organization for the City of Alexandria, Virginia. Recognized by Travel + Leisure as a top five best U.S. city in 2025, Alexandria is a welcoming escape on the Potomac River, minutes from Washington, D.C. Founded in 1749 and boasting the nation’s third oldest historic district, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel. Preparing to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, Alexandria’s story follows in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers and the Black Americans who shaped the U.S. and the city’s history. Stroll Old Town Alexandria’s King Street mile to find more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques plus intimate historic museums and new experiences at the waterfront. Explore vibrant neighborhoods beyond Old Town, which are unique and alive with energy and excitement.