Union

Ivory Coast Makes Chester and Wilmington Home Base for 2026 World Cup

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Feb 17th, 2026 · 2:15 PM EST

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When teams play in the World Cup, or the Euros, or any weeks-long international tournament, they pick a home base to operate out of.

This summer, the Ivory Coast will be using the Union’s facilities in Chester:

CHESTER, Pa. (February 17, 2026) – Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the 501c3 non-profit organization that serves as the Local Host Committee charged with planning and executing FIFA World Cup 2026™ in coordination with the City of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Union today announced that Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has selected Philadelphia Union’s stadium as its official Team Base Camp training site for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. During the tournament, ‘Les Éléphants’ will train at the world-class facilities in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Côte d’Ivoire’s decision to make the Philadelphia region—spanning Pennsylvania and Delaware—their home during the tournament reflects the area’s unique combination of elite training facilities, strategic location, and strong soccer culture. Côte d’Ivoire will become part of the fabric of communities across Pennsylvania and Delaware as Les Éléphants train, prepare, and compete from their regional home.

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Côte d’Ivoire’s selection reflects the exceptional quality of Philadelphia Union’s stadium and its surrounding campus. 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 comprehensive campus provides everything a world-class team needs to prepare for the tournament’s highest level of competition.

The arrival of Côte d’Ivoire represents a significant milestone for the entire greater Philadelphia region. With training facilities in Chester and their team headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Les Éléphants’ presence will create an exciting international connection across state lines. Delaware will play a vital role in the World Cup experience, welcoming one of the tournament’s most compelling teams and sharing in the global spotlight. The team’s presence throughout the tournament will bring international visibility to communities across Pennsylvania and Delaware while providing residents with the unique experience of hosting a championship-caliber squad as they prepare for the world’s biggest stage. Les Éléphants will experience the region’s renowned sports passion and commitment to hospitality, while local residents create lasting connections that will extend beyond the tournament itself.

It makes sense because they play two games at Lincoln Financial Field. They’ll open against Ecuador on June 14th and then meet Curacao on June 25th to wrap up the group stage. Their 2nd game is a short trip to Toronto to play Germany on June 20th.

There aren’t a ton of connections with this Ivory Coast team, which topped Group F in African qualifying. They’re captained by Franck Kessie, who played for Milan and Barcelona. They have a couple of stud midfielders in Seko Fofana (Porto) and Jean Michael Seri (played a bunch of years in England). This 19-year-old Yan Diomande is having a breakout year with Leipzig and they have guys who play for Roma, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Villarreal, etc.

Maybe we can do some “content” with the boys, like eating cheesesteaks with the Ivorians. We should hook ’em up with Skinny Joey Merlino and Lil’ Snuff in South Philly. Or we can take them to see the sights in Chester and Wilmington. “Yo I saw the Ivory Coast national team at Trolley Square!” They’ll do the obligatory Rocky Steps and all of that. Let’s give the Ivorians and their fans a warm welcome to the Delaware Valley!