Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The Uruguayan national football team has selected Playa del Carmen as its preferred location to establish its training base during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This decision is based on sporting, logistical, and operational criteria, designed to support a schedule that will feature Miami and Guadalajara as key venues in the group stage.
The Uruguayan Football Association reported that, after evaluating five potential sites, the Mexican city was the only one that met all the requirements previously established by the technical staff and leadership.
The resolution still requires approval from FIFA, which must issue its decision before January 16.
The only possible obstacle would be if a national team with a higher FIFA ranking requests the same location.
“The choice of Playa del Carmen responds to a comprehensive vision that combines sporting performance, physical recovery, logistical planning, and human well-being, aspects considered key to facing a tournament of maximum demand like the World Cup,” the Uruguayan Federation stated in a communication.
If approval is not received, the AUF has defined alternatives in the United States. Tampa, Atlanta, Boca Ratón, and Austin remain as secondary options, all selected under the same criteria of performance, privacy, and quality of life for an estimated stay of 30 days.
The selection of Playa del Carmen also aligns with Uruguay’s roadmap for the first phase of the World Cup.
La Celeste will play its first two matches in Miami, against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, and will conclude the group stage in Guadalajara against Spain, a matchup that many fans already consider one of the most attractive in the tournament’s initial round.
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