Tampa is quietly working a big-time soccer hustle, trying to lure one of the national teams coming for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by turning the Tampa Bay Rowdies' Waters Sportsplex into a full-on training and operations hub. The pitch from the Tampa Bay Sports Commission would plant a World Cup squad in town for daily practice, while players, staff and media cycle through local hotels and restaurants. City boosters say landing a team would mean repeated, high-profile exposure in the weeks around group-stage matches.
As reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the Sports Commission is actively courting federations and spotlighting the Rowdies' complex as a potential home base for an incoming national side. The station's video report today details the effort to keep at least one team based in the Bay area for the duration of its tournament run.
Rowdies Facility Lands In FIFA’s Team Base Camp Brochure
The Rowdies announced in October that Waters Sportsplex had been added to FIFA's official Team Base Camp brochure, the guide national federations use to pick where their squads will live and train during the World Cup, as announced by Tampa Bay Rowdies. The club describes the 14,600-square-foot complex as featuring two natural grass fields, a FIFA-approved turf pitch and quick access to Tampa International Airport.
"We are honored to be featured in the FIFA World Cup Host Training Site brochure," Rowdies president Ryan Helfrick said in the team's release. Coverage by USL Championship and other local outlets notes that Waters Sportsplex has already welcomed high-profile visitors, including SL Benfica and the U.S. men's national team, something organizers say strengthens Tampa's case to host a World Cup squad.
How Teams Pick A Base, And What Tampa Stands To Gain
FIFA's Team Base Camp materials pair training sites with nearby hotels. In the latest brochure, Waters Sportsplex is linked with the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, giving federations a ready-made training and lodging combo, per FIFA. Each national federation makes its own choice, typically after the tournament's Final Draw sets group locations and helps teams decide where they want to set up shop.
If a squad picks Tampa, officials say the city would host daily practices, media operations and support staff activities. That would mean a steady stream of business for hotels, restaurants and transportation companies, along with a major showcase for the Rowdies' facilities. The club and its local partners are framing the opportunity as both an economic bump and a rare shot to put Tampa Bay firmly on the global soccer calendar.
For now, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission is in full sales mode and Waters Sportsplex sits on FIFA's list. Federations are expected to make their choices in the weeks ahead, and local leaders insist they will be ready if a national team decides to call Tampa home during the tournament.
