Croatia choose Alexandria as base camp for 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America

Alexandria, Virginia (Photo: FIFA)

The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has officially selected Alexandria, Virginia, as the base camp for the Croatian national team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

HNS confirmed that it successfully secured its first-choice base camp, with the Croatian squad set to stay at Hotel AKA Alexandria and train at the Episcopal High School sports complex.

The town of Alexandria is located just outside Washington, D.C., offering strong logistical advantages and top-class sporting facilities.

According to HNS, the decision followed an extensive and detailed evaluation process. Before the World Cup draw, the federation analysed more than 60 potential base camps.

Once match locations were known, this list was narrowed down to a smaller selection that met strict sporting and logistical criteria.

A delegation consisting of technical director Stipe Pletikosa, team manager Iva Olivari, and HNS spokesperson Tomislav Pacak personally inspected eight shortlisted locations across the north-eastern United States and Canada.

Stipe Pletikosa, Iva Olivari, Tomislav Pacak (Photo: HNS)

Upon returning from North America, the options were presented to head coach Zlatko Dalić and his coaching staff, who unanimously agreed that Alexandria offered the best overall solution. As a result, Alexandria was submitted as HNS’s top priority among the five camps each federation is required to nominate.

Team manager Iva Olivari emphasised the depth of the assessment process, noting that every potential camp was evaluated live and in detail before the final recommendation was made to the coaching staff.

(Photo: FIFA)

Technical director Stipe Pletikosa highlighted that Alexandria provides an excellent balance of elite training conditions, comfort and accessibility.

“From a sporting perspective, which is always our priority, the facilities at Episcopal High School are outstanding. Combined with a high-quality hotel, close proximity to the airport and a favourable geographic position relative to our group-stage matches, everything fell into place immediately,” Pletikosa said.

(Photo: FIFA)

The Croatian team will be based at Hotel AKA Alexandria, which opened in April 2023 and has already received multiple awards and strong guest reviews. Designed by renowned Italian architect Piero Lissoni, the hotel features a modern aesthetic and premium amenities.

Located near the Potomac River in Alexandria’s historic old town, the hotel offers 180 contemporary rooms in a quiet setting, along with dedicated spaces for team meetings, dining, recovery and fitness. Importantly, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is just a six-minute drive away.

The Episcopal High School training complex is located approximately 15 minutes from the hotel and is regarded as one of the finest athletic facilities in the region.

(Photo: FIFA)

In addition to a top-standard football pitch, the centre includes an advanced fitness facility with running tracks and cardio equipment, a fully equipped gym, and high-level recovery areas. These include hydrotherapy, cryotherapy, electrical stimulation and ultrasound therapy, ensuring optimal preparation and recovery for players throughout the tournament.

Head coach Zlatko Dalić expressed satisfaction with the decision, stressing that Alexandria met all key requirements.

“There are many factors that make a good base camp — training conditions, hotel quality, privacy, location, distance from the airport and overall environment. Based on everything we saw and heard, Alexandria offered the best combination,” Dalić said.

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He added that the true value of any base camp is ultimately reflected in results, expressing hope that Alexandria will be remembered as fondly as Croatia’s successful camps in Russia (2018) and Doha (2022).

HNS president Marijan Kustić underlined the importance of providing the best possible conditions for both players and staff, especially given the scale of the 2026 tournament across three countries.

“The World Cup across such a vast territory will be a major logistical challenge. However, we have an experienced and well-organised logistics team, and I am confident the national team will have everything it needs — peace, comfort and world-class facilities,” Kustić said.

(Photo: FIFA)

With Alexandria confirmed as their home base, Croatia now turn their full focus towards preparation for what will be the largest World Cup in history.