German Men’s National Team selects Wake Forest, Graylyn for FIFA World Cup 2026™
The German Men’s National Team has selected Winston-Salem as its home base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, choosing Wake Forest University and The Graylyn Estate as its official training site and team headquarters – bringing one of the world’s premier soccer programs to the Triad and placing Winston-Salem on an international stage. As part of the partnership, the German team will reside at The Graylyn Estate and train at Wake Forest’s W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium, one of the nation’s premier collegiate soccer facilities.
For the Community
More information about a community engagement event with the team upon their arrival in Winston-Salem and the fan experience in general will be shared at a later date.
Community Partners
- City of Winston-Salem
- Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
- Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.
- Visit North Carolina
- Visit Winston-Salem
Team Logistics
- June 2 – Depart Frankfurt for Chicago
- June 6 – Final pre-tournament friendly against co-hosts USA
- June 8 – Team arrives in Winston-Salem
- June 14 – Team in Houston for Curaçao match
- June 20 – Team in Toronto for
Ivory Coast match - June 25 – Team in New Jersey for Ecuador match
What They’re Saying
Wake Forest University President Dr. Susan R. Wente
“Wake Forest University is truly honored to host the German Men’s National Team as its official training base for the FIFA World Cup 2026. We are eager to welcome one of the world’s premier soccer teams to Winston-Salem, our Triad community, and to Wake Forest’s Spry Soccer Stadium – one of the top soccer facilities in the nation, and to The Graylyn Estate – one of the nation’s most historic and highly sought-after boutique hotels. This global partnership reinforces our dedication to support a vibrant, connected region, and we are enthusiastic about the possibilities of making the World Cup experience available to our community.”
Wake Forest University Vice President, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services John Wise
“Hosting Team Germany is a tremendous honor and highlight for Wake Forest and The Graylyn Estate. Our selection as their North American base validates both our university’s global standing and the world-class hospitality delivered by the staff of The Graylyn Estate. We are excited about this partnership and the memorable experiences it will offer Wake Forest and our Winston-Salem community.”
Wake Forest University Vice President and Director of Athletics John Currie
“Wake Forest is proud to partner with Winston-Salem to serve as the German Men’s National Team’s home base during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosting a four-time World Cup champion reflects the strength of our University soccer culture, which is truly world-class — most recently highlighted by our women’s program finishing as the 2024 NCAA runner-up and our men’s team capturing the 2024 ACC Championship. Under the leadership of Tony da Luz and Bobby Muuss, our programs have established a standard of excellence for Demon Deacon student-athletes and fostered deep engagement with the local soccer community, including a strong tradition of outstanding youth camps that will continue this summer. This is another winning moment for Wake Forest and Winston-Salem, and I am deeply grateful for the collaboration that made it happen!”
Wake Forest University Head Men’s Soccer Coach Bobby Muuss
“Wake Forest and Winston-Salem being selected as the temporary home for a national powerhouse like Germany preparing for the World Cup is an incredible honor for our facilities, our university and our entire city. To welcome a World Cup-bound team and to play even a small role in their preparation is something our players, coaches and fans should be proud of. It puts a global spotlight on our campus and our city in a truly special way.”
Wake Forest University Head Women’s Soccer Coach Tony da Luz
“Hosting the German men’s national team as they prepare for the World Cup is an honor and will bring immeasurable exposure to Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem. We’ve always promoted Spry Soccer Stadium as a world-class soccer facility and this selection affirms that statement. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to share Wake Forest with the world.”
German Men’s National Team Head Coach Julian Nagelsmann
“With our Home Ground at the adidas headquarters in Herzogenaurach, we have a place that allows the team to come together regularly while still providing the peace and privacy we need. We have found the same conditions here at The Graylyn Estate. From a coaching and team perspective, the most important factor is the proximity to the training pitches. We have three football fields in excellent condition that meet all of our sporting requirements, and they can be reached on foot or by bike in less than ten minutes. That is a decisive advantage. Given the vast distances across the United States, Canada and Mexico we already have to cover long stretches when traveling, so we want to avoid additional journeys in our daily training routine. With this base camp, we have achieved exactly that. The cooperation with Wake Forest University is exceptional. Many of the things we need are already available on site, so we don’t have to bring everything from Germany. That makes logistics much easier. We have outstanding conditions here, both on the pitch and beyond.”
Deutscher Fussball-Bund Managing Director of Sport Andreas Rettig
“With this Team Base Camp, we are creating the best possible conditions for a successful tournament. The environment is ideal — both in sporting and infrastructural terms. The team behind the team at the DFB has, with great precision and passion, identified the perfect base camp for us through an extensive process across the three host nations. Our close and constructive cooperation with FIFA, as well as with the local authorities, Wake Forest University and the hotel management, has played a key role in making this possible. Thanks to a favorable draw, we were able to implement our preferred scenario.”
City of Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines
“Hosting the German Men’s National Team is a big opportunity for the city of Winston-Salem to showcase our renowned hospitality, vibrant city, and first-class facilities. We are proud to welcome the team, their families, journalists, and fans who will call our beautiful city home during the World Cup. We encourage all visitors to enjoy our wonderful hotels, restaurants, and shops during their visit!”
Visit Winston-Salem President and CEO Stephanie Pace Brown
“Welcoming the German national team to train at Wake Forest is an extraordinary honor for Winston-Salem and a proud moment for our community. Their presence showcases our city on the global stage and reflects the warm hospitality and passion for sports that define this destination.”
Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. President and CEO Mark Owens
“We are excited for the German men’s national team and their guests to get to explore Winston-Salem and feel that this is their ‘home away from home’ during the World Cup. We are proud to be the host city for DFB and to further the strong business relationship between North Carolina and Germany. This opportunity brings Winston-Salem to the world’s largest sporting event, and we are eager to showcase our city.”
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and Visit North Carolina CEO Chris Chung
“North Carolina is a destination for businesses and tourists from around the world, and the German national team’s decision to establish its base in Winston-Salem this summer is another great endorsement of our state. This selection followed a thorough evaluation process, and it reflects the high standard of quality North Carolina offers — from our world-class facilities and hospitality to our global connectivity, including daily direct air service that positions Germany as one of our top international markets for visitation. We’re proud to welcome a team known for its discipline and excellence as the world’s attention turns to the 2026 World Cup.”
For the Media
Deutscher Fussball-Bund / German Men’s National Team
Media Officer, Men’s National Team
Franziska Wülle
franziska.wuelle@dfb.de
Point of Contact, International Media
Ruth Pintner
ruth.pintner@dfb.de
Point of Contact, Media Operations
Anneke von der Ecken
anneke-sophie.von-der-ecken@dfb.de
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest News
media@wfu.edu
On Social Media
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University Athletics
The Graylyn Estate
German’s Men National Team
FAQs
Germany selected Wake Forest as its host training site due to its thriving collegiate environment, state-of-the-art athletics facilities, and reputation as one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. The Graylyn Estate was chosen as the team’s base camp due to its national prominence as a premier boutique hotel and its secluded, historic 55-acre setting, offering the privacy, focus, and comfort required at the highest level of international competition. Its proximity to Wake Forest’s athletics facilities further positioned Winston-Salem as an ideal home base throughout the tournament.
More information about a community engagement event with the team upon their arrival in Winston-Salem and the fan experience in general will be shared at a later date.
The Graylyn Estate is honored to serve as the private sanctuary for Team Germany during the tournament. Details on security and privacy measures are still being developed, as well as guidance for walking and jogging. More specific details will be forthcoming.
The Graylyn pool will need to operate on a modified summer schedule with prorated membership opportunities. Updates will be posted on the pool website. Specific questions can be directed to hospitality@wfu.edu.
Spry Stadium and the adjacent practice facilities will be reserved for the German Men’s National Team during their stay. The North Dining Hall will serve as the official press hub. No other facilities should be impacted.
Parking adjacent to Spry Stadium will be limited. General parking in Lot Q will be available for faculty, staff or general visitors to campus as usual. Some minor traffic patterns may be adjusted as needed for security or privacy purposes.
Wake Forest’s men’s and women’s soccer camps will continue to operate this summer. Overall camp logistics, such as which fields and locations will be used, are currently being finalized, and these details will be shared at a later date.
