NORTHWEST NOTES: Egypt selects Gonzaga, Spokane as team base camp training site for FIFA World Cup 2026

SPOKANE — The City of Spokane and Gonzaga University will serve as a team base camp training site during FIFA World Cup 2026 for the seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt, it was announced Tuesday. 

Each team participating in FIFA World Cup 202 selects a team base camp training site where the delegation will be headquartered to prepare for matches, including practice sessions, player workouts, team meetings and staff operations. 

This “home away from home” is designed to provide a hub where teams will arrive ahead of their first match and will be available for those teams to return to between matches.

Egypt’s schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026

June 15: Egypt vs. Belgium in Seattle

June 21: Egypt vs. New Zealand in Vancouver, British Columbia

June 26: Egypt vs. Iran in Seattle

The Pharaohs will make their fourth appearance at the FIFA World Cup 2026. In Spokane, they'll train at Luger Field, home to Gonzaga men's and women's soccer.

Gonzaga University and the City of Spokane negotiated extensively with FIFA to be accepted as a potential team base camp location. Spokane and Renton are the only cities in the state of Washington to be included in the FIFA brochure. 

Following the FIFA World Cup 2026™ final draw in December, national teams began making their base camp selections.