Mesa is getting a serious global glow-up. Arizona Athletic Grounds, together with Visit Mesa and the City of Mesa, has been selected as the official Team Base Camp training site for the Türkiye Men’s National Team during the FIFA World Cup 2026. Translation: one of the world’s biggest sporting stages is bringing a little international soccer heat to the East Valley.
During the tournament, Arizona Athletic Grounds will serve as Türkiye’s “home away from home,” hosting closed training sessions throughout the group stage and beyond. Security and operations will be coordinated with local and regional partners in line with FIFA protocols, because yes, this is very much a big-deal operation.
For Mesa, the selection is more than a sports headline. It is a prestige moment. Arizona Athletic Grounds is already known as one of the largest youth-oriented sports and entertainment facilities in North America, drawing millions of visitors through competitions, special events and community programming. Now, it is adding World Cup-level training destination to the résumé.
“Our Team Base Camp selection speaks to the quality of our facilities and the collaborative efforts that make opportunities like this possible,” says David Hayes, Director of Fields at Arizona Athletic Grounds. “We are honored to host Türkiye and proud to work alongside Visit Mesa and the City of Mesa to showcase our community on the global stage.”
Türkiye enters the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Group D alongside the U.S. Men’s National Team, Paraguay and Australia. The team opens play against Australia on June 13 at BC Place Vancouver in Vancouver, Canada. It marks Türkiye’s third all-time World Cup appearance and first since 2002, when the nation delivered its best-ever finish by placing third.
Mesa is not just sitting politely on the sidelines, either. A special Community Day is scheduled for Monday, June 8, giving fans a chance to watch an active training session on the stadium field, get autographs and photos with players, and enjoy live music, entertainment, food and drink specials and other family-friendly activations. Additional details are still to come, but the vibe is clear: Mesa is making this moment count.
“We are thrilled that Mesa will serve as home base for the Türkiye Men’s National Team during the FIFA World Cup 2026,” says 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.”
Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman is also leaning into the win, framing the selection as the result of long-term planning and investment.
“We’re proud Mesa has been selected as a training site for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and to host the Türkiye Men’s National Team,” says 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.”
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11 and will feature 48 nations, making it the most expansive FIFA World Cup in history. For Mesa, the tournament is already creating its own local win before the first whistle blows.
Insider Takeaways
- Arizona Athletic Grounds has been selected as Türkiye’s official Team Base Camp training site during the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Mesa facility will host closed training sessions for the team throughout the group stage and beyond.
- Türkiye enters Group D with the U.S. Men’s National Team, Paraguay and Australia.
- A Community Day on June 8 will give fans access to a training session, player autographs, photos, live music, entertainment and family-friendly activations.
- The selection gives Mesa major international visibility ahead of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
- Arizona Athletic Grounds continues to build its reputation as a major sports and entertainment destination in North America.
To learn more, visit azgrounds.com.
