France Moves World Cup Base Camp Training Site to Bentley University

The French Football Federation has confirmed that the French Men’s National Soccer Team will now train at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, moving from its originally planned base at Babson College in Wellesley.

The Federation said that it had selected the site due to its “top-quality athletic fields, modern work-out facilities in the Bentley Arena and proximity to Foxborough, Massachusetts.”

It follows a visit by FFF President Philippe Diallo, National Team Head Coach Didier Deschamps and his staff to the Bentley Arena over the recent international break, when they also met with Bentley President E. LaBrent Chrite and Athletics Director Vaughn Williams.

“We received an extremely warm welcome, and, above all, we believe that Bentley is the best option for the French National Team for the World Cup,” said Deschamps.

“We are thrilled to provide a home away from home for the French National Team during their stay in Massachusetts,” said President Chite. “At Bentley, we focus relentlessly on successful outcomes for our students.

“We are proud of this successful outcome and Bentley’s upcoming role in this historic international event.”

It is believed that the Federation failed to reach a final agreement with Babson College, located 15 miles west of Boston, even though it had already been widely reported as the base camp training site for Les Bleus this summer. Although it did not provide a specific reason for the move, the FFF said that Bentley had been chosen over Babson College for its “functional facilities, readiness and cost-effectiveness.”

Meanwhile, the National Team will still stay at the Four Seasons Boston in downtown Boston, with reports suggesting that it had booked out the entire 239-room hotel for almost the entirety of the tournament (35 days).

FIFA World Cup Preparations

Last month, France played two matches in its U.S. “Road to 26” series: Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on March 26 and Colombia at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on March 29. The team has also scheduled a home friendly match against Ivory Coast before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, on June 4 in Nantes.

France will kick off its 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I campaign against Senegal on June 16 at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey before facing Iraq in Philadelphia on June 22, and concluding its group stage against Norway at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on June 26.

The team will arrive in the United States as one of the heavy favorites for World Cup glory, having won the tournament twice (in 1998 and 2018), been a runner-up to Argentina in Qatar four years ago and achieved the coveted number one spot in the latest FIFA World Rankings last week.

Read the full list of confirmed base camps so far here.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which has been expanded to 48 teams, will begin with Mexico vs. South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City, with the final being held on July 19 in New York New Jersey.