Alexandria Lands Croatian National Soccer Team for 2026 World Cup

Chance search for World Cup tickets leads to Virginia city becoming a FIFA base camp.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 6:47am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

What started as a random search for 2026 World Cup tickets led to the Croatian Football Federation selecting Alexandria, Virginia as its base camp during the tournament. The Croatian men's national team will train at Episcopal High School and stay at Hotel AKA Alexandria in Old Town.

Why it matters

Hosting a top-10 ranked national soccer team during the World Cup is a major coup for the city of Alexandria, bringing global exposure and an economic boost from the influx of players, staff, and fans. It also highlights Alexandria's growing reputation as a sports tourism destination.

The details

In January 2026, the Croatian Football Federation confirmed that it had chosen Alexandria as its training location and hotel base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The decision came after a chance search for World Cup tickets led Visit Alexandria staff to connect with the Croatian federation and pitch the city as an ideal host location.

  • In January 2026, the Croatian Football Federation confirmed its selection of Alexandria.
  • The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place later this year.

The players

Croatian Football Federation

The governing body for soccer in Croatia, which has selected Alexandria as its base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Visit Alexandria

The city's tourism organization that connected with the Croatian federation and successfully pitched Alexandria as a host location.

Episcopal High School

The school in Alexandria that will serve as the training facility for the Croatian national team during the World Cup.

Hotel AKA Alexandria

The Old Town Alexandria hotel where the Croatian national team will be staying during the World Cup.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Hosting a top-10 ranked national soccer team during the World Cup is a major coup for the city of Alexandria, bringing global exposure and an economic boost from the influx of players, staff, and fans.”

— Stephanie Landrum, President and CEO, Visit Alexandria

What’s next

The Croatian national team will arrive in Alexandria in early June 2026 to begin training at Episcopal High School ahead of the start of the World Cup.

The takeaway

Alexandria's successful bid to host the Croatian national team during the 2026 World Cup showcases the city's growing reputation as a sports tourism destination and its ability to capitalize on unexpected opportunities, like a random ticket search, to attract major international events.