Key facts
- Spain is training at Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Iraq is based in a small mountain resort town in West Virginia.
- Germany is training in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
- Local communities are decorating and hosting watch parties for the teams.
- Tickets for practice sessions are highly sought after by fans.
- Baylor School modified its facilities and training schedules to accommodate the Spanish national team.
As the World Cup approaches, several national teams have established their training base camps in unexpected locations across the United States, bringing a global sporting event to smaller communities. Spain is currently residing and training at the Baylor School, a private academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while the Iraqi team has set up camp in a small mountain resort town in West Virginia. Germany is also training in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
These host cities are embracing the teams with local flair. Chattanooga has adorned the Spanish team's hotel with national flags and banners, and local residents, like 8-year-old Beckham, are eagerly awaiting glimpses of their heroes. Jaxon McClure, a local soccer coach and veteran, expressed the significance of having the Spanish team in his city. The enthusiasm extends to local businesses, with a Winston-Salem bar creating a German-inspired menu for watch parties.
Teams selected their base camps from a FIFA-approved list, with higher-ranked nations having priority. Spain's choice of Chattanooga over larger cities highlights the appeal of the facilities offered by Baylor School. The school's operations director, Sam Green, noted that FIFA inspectors evaluated the condition of the pitches and other facilities. To preserve the grass fields for the Spanish team, Baylor's own players trained on artificial turf during the spring.
For some locals, like Skip Schwartz, a member of Baylor's board of trustees, the choice of campus holds personal meaning, recalling his time playing soccer there decades ago. The excitement is palpable, with fans like Tina Ankar finding themselves cheering for Spain, adding to the local fervor. The students at Baylor School also experienced the excitement, taking photos in the locker room stalls assigned to Spanish stars.