Morocco has taken a major step in its build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup by officially establishing its training base in the United States, with New Jersey confirmed as the home of the Atlas Lions during the tournament.

The announcement, made in Basking Ridge, saw New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill alongside Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, unveil The Pingry School as Morocco’s permanent base camp.

The choice of Pingry is a strategic move by the North African side to secure top-level preparation conditions ahead of the expanded global tournament.

The facility, which previously served as a training site during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, has been extensively upgraded, with renovations completed in 2025. It now boasts two international-standard grass pitches and a modern athletics centre tailored to elite performance.

Morocco’s decision comes as the team gears up for a high-profile opening fixture against Brazil on June 13 at MetLife Stadium. This is one of the key venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Beyond logistics, the selection carries cultural and symbolic weight. Governor Sherrill highlighted New Jersey’s sizeable Moroccan community, estimated at nearly 10,000 residents, as a crucial factor, describing the state as a “home away from home” for the Atlas Lions.

Historically, the Kingdom of Morocco was the first country to recognise the United States after the American continent-sized nation’s independence 250 years ago.

Morocco’s Camp Base at The Pingry School in New Jersey

In the lead-up to the decision of picking the Moroccan camp base, Ambassador Amrani undertook a detailed inspection of facilities and held high-level consultations with officials from New York City’s Mayor’s Office.

Discussions focused on coordinating security arrangements, managing media operations, and ensuring smooth hospitality services for the Moroccan delegation during the tournament.

Amrani praised the collaboration between Moroccan and U.S. authorities, noting football’s unique ability to strengthen international ties and cultural exchange.

With several other nations also eyeing New Jersey as a base, Morocco’s early move underscores its intent to gain a competitive edge by combining world-class infrastructure with strong diaspora support as it prepares for another global campaign.

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The 2026 World Cup offers a chance to drive soccer into Canada’s mainstream, boost commercial revenues and elevate the Canadian Premier League, said James Johnson, commissioner of the country’s top-tier domestic competition.

The ​tournament – the first edition of the global showpiece to feature 48 teams – will be co-hosted by ‌Canada, alongside the United States and Mexico, from June 11 to July 19.

“Like any World Cup, there is always a big opportunity to grow the sport and grow the business of the sport,” Johnson, who is also the Group CEO of Canadian Soccer Business, ​told Reuters in an interview.

“Canada, for the first time in our history, will co-host the 2026 World ​Cup. From our perspective, we see an opportunity to break the sport into the mainstream, ⁠to really grow commercial revenues, and ultimately to put the Canadian Premier League at the very centre of the ​Canadian sports agenda.”

Canada will appear at the men’s World Cup for a third time, following previous appearances in 1986 ​and 2022.

Coached by American Jesse Marsch, their squad includes Bayern Munich left back Alphonso Davies, the team’s captain, and Juventus forward Jonathan David.

“We’ve got two great national teams, the men’s and the women’s. We’ve got players playing at big clubs and in top leagues ​around the world,” Johnson said.

The Canadian Premier League was founded in 2017 and played its first season in 2019. ​Johnson believes the league is now entering a more mature phase.

“We have a new league, a relatively new league, that is maturing ‌in ⁠the Canadian Premier League, developing great players for the national teams and for big clubs around the world,” he said.

“All the right ingredients are there. It’s about bringing those ingredients together and making magic happen. That’s what we’re focused on doing as we co-host a World Cup.”

The Canadian Premier League has also positioned itself at the forefront of innovation. ​In April, a goal scored ​under soccer’s experimental “daylight” offside ⁠rule was allowed for the first time in a professional match.

The concept, long advocated by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in his role as FIFA’s head of global football ​development, is now being assessed in Canada as a potential future change to the ​laws of the ⁠game.

“What we’re doing with FIFA and Wenger is something new. It’s innovative. We think it’s great for the sport,” Johnson added.

“It’s created a lot of debate, both around video football support and the daylight rule, and that’s a good thing. ⁠We see ​our role as creating interest in our league.

“We want more discussion ​in Canada, but we also want to be part of a global conversation that is driving the sport forward. We think we’re doing that ​through the implementation of these new rules.”

-Reuters

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It is 37 days to the 2026 World Cup, and Nigeria may be missing from the expanded edition, but the Super Eagles’ imprint on African football’s biggest stage remains unmistakable, written boldly in history, statistics, and unforgettable moments.

Across 44 years of African participation at the World Cup, dating back to the 1970 FIFA World Cup when Morocco national football team carried the continent’s hopes, African teams have collectively recorded 37 victories. At the summit of that chart sits Nigeria, leading all African nations with six wins.

Nigeria’s World Cup story is one of explosive arrival and sustained impact. Their debut at the 1994 FIFA World Cup announced a new force in global football.

The 3-0 demolition of Bulgaria, highlighted by Rashidi Yekini’s iconic net-clutching celebration, remains one of Africa’s most emphatic opening statements.

Four years later, at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria delivered another historic scalp, defeating Spain 3-2 in a dramatic encounter sealed by Sunday Oliseh’s thunderbolt from distance. That victory not only stunned Europe but reinforced Nigeria’s reputation as a giant-slayer.

With six wins overall, Nigeria stand ahead of continental heavyweights such as the Cameroon national football team, the Ghana national football team, Morocco national football team, and Senegal national football team—each with five victories.

Africa’s journey at the World Cup has been punctuated by iconic upsets and trailblazing achievements. Tunisia’s national football team claimed the continent’s first victory with a 3-1 triumph over Mexico in 1978.

That breakthrough paved the way for legendary moments: Algeria’s shock defeat of West Germany in 1982, Morocco’s win over Portugal in 1986, and Cameroon’s stunning victories against Argentina and Colombia in 1990.

Senegal’s fairy-tale run in 2002 included wins over France and Sweden, while Ghana’s triumph against the Czech Republic in 2006 further underlined Africa’s growing influence.

More recently, Africa reached new heights at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where the continent recorded a record eight wins. Morocco’s national football team led the charge with three victories en route to a historic semi-final finish, while Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, and Tunisia all contributed to the tally.

Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup marks a significant absence, particularly for a nation that has long been Africa’s standard-bearer at the tournament. Yet, even in their absence, the Super Eagles remain statistically and historically central to Africa’s World Cup narrative.

For Nigerian football followers, the numbers offer both pride and provocation: pride in a legacy unmatched on the continent, and provocation to reclaim that status on the road to future tournaments.

As Africa prepares to add new chapters in 2026, Nigeria’s story, rich with six victories and iconic performances, remains the benchmark. The challenge now is not just to remember that legacy, but to rebuild it.

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