World Cup Teams Find Unique Training Grounds in Tennessee and West Virginia

In the picturesque landscape of Chattanooga, Tennessee, young Beckham, just 8 years old, spent over three hours perched on a fence, clutching a handwritten note meant for Spain's national soccer team. The message, addressed to players Pedri and Lamine Yamal, expressed his admiration: “I love you and I look up to you. Thanks for coming to my city. I hope you win the World Cup.” As the players took to the field, Beckham's awe was palpable, whispering to his father, “Dad, they’re real.”

Jaxon McClure, Beckham’s father and a Marine Corps veteran, shared in the excitement. Having grown up in Chattanooga, he played soccer as a child using makeshift goals and now coaches many local kids, naming his first child after the legendary David Beckham. This summer marks a significant moment for Chattanooga as it becomes one of the host cities for the World Cup, serving as a training base for teams like Spain, which has chosen a local boarding school for its preparations.

Chattanooga's warm hospitality is on full display with the Spanish team residing at the Embassy Suites, decorated with the vibrant red and yellow of Spain’s flag. As many locals don Spanish jerseys, it’s hard to distinguish between visiting fans and hometown supporters. A staggering 25,000 people entered a lottery for just 1,000 tickets to witness Spain's practice at Baylor School, a sprawling campus for students in grades 6-12.

Other teams are also making their mark in the U.S. Iraq has set its camp in a West Virginia mountain resort town, while Germany has chosen Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where excitement is palpable as bars extend hours for watch parties. Savannah Lahey, who manages a local soccer bar in Winston-Salem, noted, “It’s just fun to see everyone start to care about something they didn’t care about before.”

Spain's choice of Chattanooga over larger cities like Chicago and Los Angeles highlights the charm and suitability of the region. FIFA inspectors approved Baylor’s facilities, allowing Spain to transform the campus into a training headquarters, complete with two grass pitches that were prepared specifically for their needs. Local supporters, like Skip Schwartz, take pride in Spain’s presence, reminiscing about how he and his teammates laid the sod for the soccer field decades ago.

As Spain's training sessions begin, the energy is infectious. Fans rally behind the team, shouting “Vamos, España!” with enthusiasm. Many, like Tina Ankar, a first-generation Palestinian American, find themselves swept up in the excitement, saying, “Now we really have someone to cheer on besides America.” This World Cup is not just a global event but a local celebration, uniting communities through the love of soccer.