There is no greater showcase for a united world of sports than the World Cup. In 2026, matches at international soccer's pinnacle were played in the United States of America for the second time.
World Cup 2026 is the biggest in the competition's 96-year history and 11 of its 16 venues were in the USA. Consequently, the majority of the World Cup's 48 squads set up their team base camps around the country.
Of those, four selected nearby Hilton Hotels for their accommodation with hopes of staying from early June to the middle of July. All four made it past the group stage. One went all the way....
Which World Cup teams stayed at Hilton Hotels?
For many of the teams who qualify for the World Cup, the logistical operations involved in taking a travelling party across the globe to compete can be a scramble for the best facilities.
Whether they're booking training centers or ensuring teams have somewhere perfectly located to serve as their accommodation, the race to lock in plans is the hidden competition behind the competition.
Algeria set up their training base at the University of Kansas in Kansas City, Missouri. Their accommodation was the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lawrence in nearby Lawrence.
Located within a couple of miles of downtown Lawrence offers easy access to local amenities and an indoor saltwater pool.
Algeria finished third in Group J thanks to a win over Jordan and a dramatic draw with Austria before losing to Switzerland in the round of 16. Two of their group stage matches were played at Kansas City Stadium, but they were ultimately knocked out north of the border in Canada.
2022 semi-finalists Morocco reached the quarter-finals this time around from their team training base in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. The Atlas Lions stayed at the neighbouring Somerset Hills Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.
Morocco played in Group C. They drew with Brazil in their opening match at New York New Jersey Stadium before wins over Scotland and Haiti saw them finish second in the group.
A penalty shootout win against the Netherlands in the round of 32 was followed by a straightforward victory over co-hosts Canada in the round of 16. A quarter-final tie against France proved a bridge too far and the dream of returning for another game in Jersey fizzled out.
In some respects the surprise package of World Cup 2026, Paraguay qualified from the group stage courtesy of a win against Turkey and a draw with Australia.
Paraguay were comfortably beaten by the USMNT in their opening match at Los Angeles Stadium. Their next two matches were played in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the team's base camp in San Jose was located.
Their accommodation was at Signia by Hilton San Jose, which is located perfectly for the city center and Paraguay's team base.
They had mixed fortunes after leaving California, shocking Germany in the round of 32 but getting knocked out in the next round by semi-finalists France.
Spain, the team that defeated France in the last four to book their place in the World Cup final for the second time, based themselves in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the duration of the tournament.
They stayed on the edge of the city center at the brand new Embassy Suites Chattanooga by Hilton, which boasts proximity to the Riverfront district on the banks of the Tennessee River.
The 2010 World Cup winners drew 0-0 with Cape Verde in their first match in Group H but followed up with a win over Saudi Arabia. Both games were played in Atlanta before a win against Uruguay south of the border.
Much-traveled Spain beat Austria in California in the round of 32, Portugal at Dallas Stadium in the round of 16 and Belgium back at Los Angeles Stadium. They defeated France 2-0 in the semi-final to return to the final for the first time since 2010.
