The Belgium men’s national team has officially announced that it will set up its World Cup 2026 training base at the Seattle Sounders’ Longacres facility. In addition to holding regular training sessions, Belgium will also use the facility for coaching, medical, performance and equipment resources for as long as they are in the tournament.
“We are very pleased to establish our base camp at the world-class facilities of Seattle Sounders FC,” Royal Belgian Football Association Sports Director Vincent Mannaert said in a statement. “This collaboration reflects our shared ambition for excellence, innovation and performance. We are confident that the professional environment in Seattle will provide the ideal conditions for our players and staff to focus, perform and represent Belgium with pride on the world stage.”
In addition to the high-quality facilities, the location will likely prove very convenient, with as many as four of Belgium’s first five matches potentially being played in the Pacific Northwest.
All three of Belgium’s group stage games will be played on the West Coast, including their opener against Egypt in Seattle on June 15. Their other group stage games are in Los Angeles against Iran on June 21 and in Vancouver, B.C. against New Zealand on June 26. If the Red Devils win their group and then advance to the Round of 16, those two matches would also be played in Seattle. There’s even a possibility that the Round of 16 match could be played against the United States.
Belgium is currently ranked No. 9 in FIFA’s global rankings. Among the players expected to make their World Cup roster are established stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku and rising stars like Jeremy Doku.
“This moment isn’t just about hosting Belgium – it’s about the world coming to Seattle and experiencing what we’ve built here,” said Sounders FC & Reign FC Chief Integration Officer Taylor Graham. “One of the best teams in global football choosing our clubhouse as their home says everything. This club, this city, this facility – it’s all part of a football culture that belongs on the global stage.”
