‘Les Éléphants’ to Call Philadelphia Union's Stadium Its Home During the Tournament
On Tuesday it was announced by Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the City of Philadlephia and the Philadlephia Union that Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has selected Philadelphia Union’s stadium, Subaru Park, as its official Team Base Camp training site for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. During the tournament, ‘Les Éléphants’ will also train at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester, Pennsylvania.
"Hosting Côte d'Ivoire on our campus is a tremendous honor for the Philadelphia Union and our entire region," said Tim McDermott, President, Philadelphia Union. "We've built one of the most unique sports campuses in North America specifically to support and develop world-class soccer, and there's no better validation of that vision than welcoming recent African champions to train here. From Chester to Wilmington to Philadelphia, this is an incredible opportunity to showcase the passion, hospitality, and excellence of our facilities and our soccer community on the global stage."
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations champion, Côte d'Ivoire brings momentum into the tournament under Coach Emerse Faé, who took over as interim coach during the continental championship and led Les Éléphants to their third African title. Drawn into Group E alongside Germany, Ecuador, and Curaçao, Côte d'Ivoire will play two group stage matches in Philadelphia, including the first match in Philadelphia on June 14.
Côte d'Ivoire's selection reflects the exceptional quality of Subaru Park and WSFS Bank Sportsplex. The Union's waterfront facility in Chester features professional-grade training fields and modern player amenities and has established itself as one of Major League Soccer's premier venues. The entire campus provides everything a world-class team needs to prepare for the tournament's highest level of competition.
