news & updates
news & updates
Arizona Athletic Grounds, in collaboration with Visit Mesa and the City of Mesa, has been selected as the official Team Base Camp training site for the Turkiye Men's National Team during the FIFA World Cup 2026™, further establishing the facility as a premier sports destination and marking a significant milestone for the city.
As Turkiye's "home away from home" during the world's largest sporting event, Arizona Athletic Grounds will host closed training sessions throughout the group stage and beyond, with security and operations coordinated closely with local and regional partners in accordance with FIFA protocols.
Turkiye earned their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ through the European playoffs, defeating Romania in the semi-final before edging Kosovo 1-0 in the final, securing the nation's third all-time appearance, and first since 2002 where they achieved their best-ever finish, placing third. They enter the tournament in Group D alongside the U.S. Men's National Team, Paraguay and Australia, opening play against Australia on June 13 at BC Place Vancouver in Vancouver, Canada.
"Our Team Base Camp selection speaks to the quality of our facilities and the collaborative efforts that make opportunities like this possible," said David Hayes, Director of Fields at Arizona Athletic Grounds. "We are honored to host Turkiye and proud to work alongside Visit Mesa and the City of Mesa to showcase our community on the global stage."
The designation as a Team Base Camp Training Site is a testament to Arizona Athletic Grounds' world-class infrastructure and will generate international visibility for Mesa ahead of one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.
"We are thrilled that Mesa will serve as home base for the Turkiye Men's National Team during the FIFA World Cup 2026," said Marc Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Mesa. "Our longstanding partnership with Arizona Athletic Grounds and the City of Mesa has helped position us to attract opportunities of this magnitude, and we couldn't be prouder to welcome them to our city. We are thankful for the City of Mesa's continued support and collaboration as this selection is a true testament to what we can accomplish when our community works together toward a shared vision. When a nation competing on the global stage chooses Mesa as its home base, it sends a powerful message about what our city has to offer."
"We're proud Mesa has been selected as a training site for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and to host the Turkiye Men's National Team," said Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman. "Opportunities like this are the result of years of thoughtful planning and steady investment in our city. We've built a community that can support major events, and we're ready to showcase Mesa on a global stage. This is good for Mesa, and we intend to make the most of it."
A special Community Day is scheduled for Monday, June 8, where fans can watch an active training session on the stadium field, get autographs and photos with players, enjoy live music, entertainment, food and drink specials and other family friendly activations. Additional details on Community Day will be announced in the coming weeks.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ kicks off on June 11, 2026, featuring 48 nations in the most expansive FIFA World Cup™ in history. Additional details regarding community engagement initiatives will be announced at a later date.