Norway Names Greensboro, North Carolina, for World Cup Base Camp

The Norwegian Football Federation has announced that its Men’s National Soccer Team will be based in Greensboro, North Carolina, during this summer’s FIFA World Cup — the federation’s first choice for a base camp location.

The team will train at UNC Greensboro, belonging to the University of North Carolina, which includes a soccer-only facility for men’s and women’s college teams.

Between training sessions and matches, they will stay at Grandover Resort & Spa, a Wyndham Grand Hotel located minutes away from Piedmont Triad International Airport and Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The hotel’s amenities include 36-hole championship golf, a luxury spa, tennis courts, bars, restaurants, an art gallery, outdoor pool and conference center.

The NFF cited the quality of the training facilities, easy access to the airport and proximity to downtown Greensboro as some of the main reasons why it was chosen as its preferred base camp.

“It was important for us to find a place where we can have peace and quiet, a rural environment, while also having opportunities for activities both at the hotel and in nearby city areas,” said Truls Dæhli, who led the NFF’s operations in securing a base camp. “Greensboro gives us exactly that.

“In addition, it is close to the airport. There will be flights to the matches, but we do not see that as a challenge in this case.”

“The World Cup is a trial, both mentally and physically,” said Norwegian Head Coach Ståle Solbakken. “It is extremely important to be able to disconnect from matches and training, and have good facilities. Here, we get top training conditions and a place that recharges our batteries instead of draining them.”

Norway will play in Group I at the World Cup, beginning against an intercontinental play-off winner (either Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname) in Boston on June 16. It will then face off against Senegal in New York New Jersey on June 22, before returning to Boston on June 26 to close out its group stage campaign against two-time champions France.

The Federation also confirmed that it plans to announce an opponent for a home friendly match in early June, before heading out to the United States.

FIFA World Cup Preparations

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.