FIFA’s Extreme Demands for 2026 World Cup Training Bases Revealed

With the 2026 World Cup drawing closer, FIFA has unveiled the stringent requirements for the 49 proposed base camps that will host participating teams throughout the tournament. As detailed by The Athletic, the guidelines are exhaustive — and occasionally bizarre — dictating every aspect of what these facilities must provide.

Internet access is among the first mandates: each venue must offer a minimum of 1000 Mbps bandwidth, with Wi-Fi coverage extending to dressing rooms, training benches, massage areas, and even the press conference spaces. After connectivity, FIFA focuses on the pitch: each training base must offer two natural grass fields, with approved turf species, underground drainage, and mowing in straight, uniform stripes — no decorative patterns allowed.

Locker rooms must span at least 190 square meters, with eight individual showers, four toilets (each with a seat and cover), and specific recovery zones featuring temperature-controlled plunge pools. Even the corner flags must meet a minimum height of 1.5 meters.

Facilities must also be enclosed with a secure 2.5-meter-high fence lined with opaque material to block outside visibility. FIFA will install sponsor boards, portable goals, and other official equipment, while local organizers are tasked with providing specialized lawn tools — including a golf hole cutter and a “pedestrian punch action spiker.”

The standards aim to ensure a uniform experience for all teams, but they also present logistical challenges — especially in cities unfamiliar with hosting global sporting giants.