Argentina’s choice of KC for World Cup base camp scuttles another soccer power’s plan
It seems not all base camps in the Kansas City area are viewed the same by international soccer powerhouses.
When the 48 teams arrive in the United States, Mexico and Canada ahead of the 2026 World Cup, they’ll travel to their home away from home before playing a match.
That’s the purpose of a World Cup base camp. It’s a place where the players can practice and get acquainted to the steamy weather.
Kansas City has three base camp options: Compass Mineral Sporting Fields, where Sporting Kansas City practices; the KC Women’s Soccer Training Complex for the KC Current; and the University of Kansas’ facilities and Rock Chalk Park.
Pam Kramer, the president of KC2026, said each nation had to give FIFA its top five base-camp choices by Monday. By the end of January, FIFA will assign the base-camp locations, stepping in to settle any disputes over a location.
Location and FIFA rankings will be two key ways to determine which country gets its first choice. That’s important following the news that Argentina reportedly is eying Kansas City for its base camp.
Argentina is ranked second in the world by FIFA, one spot behind Spain, which is leaning toward Chicago or Atlanta for a base camp, according to a report in Spain. And Argentina plays a group-stage match at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
That’s bad news for England and coach Thomas Tuchel. Following last month’s World Cup draw, The Guardian reported “Tuchel had cleared an FA (Football Association) plan for England to be based in Kansas after a pre-tournament training camp in Fort Lauderdale, but after the draw ... there are concerns that the Netherlands will be allocated their chosen facility at Sporting Kansas City, a high-performance centre used by US Soccer.”
The Netherlands also play one of their three group-stage matches at Arrowhead Stadium. But the Netherlands hasn’t picked a base camp site yet.
The Guardian story said the World Cup draw was “potentially pitting the FA against the Netherlands and Argentina for bases in the tournament’s south‑central region. ... The FA is understood to be exploring alternatives on the east coast.”
England likely would have stuck with Kansas City if FIFA gave them the first option.
England, which is fourth in FIFA’s world rankings, plays group-stage matches in Arlington, Texas; Foxborough, Massachusetts; and East Rutherford, New Jersey.
While England seems to have preferred Sporting Kansas City’s training site, it is not known why Tuchel would not consider the KC Current or Rock Chalk Park options for a base camp.
This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 10:02 AM.
