GREENSBORO, N.C. — One of the world’s top soccer teams will soon call Greensboro home as the Norwegian National Football Team prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Officials announced the team has selected the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) as its official training facility and team base camp ahead of the international tournament. Team Norway is expected to arrive in Greensboro on June 2 and begin training on the UNCG campus the following day as they prepare for matches in the World Cup, which kicks off June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“For our students, our community and all the young athletes throughout Greensboro who dream about this great game, this moment reminds us that our city is connected to the global stage of sport,” said George Foyle, a UNCG soccer alumnus and member of the program’s national championship team. According to local leaders, Greensboro was selected after Norway evaluated several potential host cities.
“They saw eight different communities, and then they put their name in. It’s a lottery, and they had their top three, and we were thrilled to learn Norway chose Greensboro first and they got their first pick,” said Richard Beard, president and CEO of the Greensboro Sports Foundation.
Norwegian officials visited Greensboro multiple times before making their final decision. They cited the city’s hospitality, convenient location, and UNCG’s soccer facilities as key factors. Team staff also highlighted the team’s preference for a hotel near nature rather than in a dense city center, along with Greensboro’s proximity to the airport and training facilities. The Norwegian roster includes one of the most recognizable names in international soccer, Erling Haaland, the prolific goal scorer who plays for Manchester City and is widely considered one of the best players in the world. City leaders say hosting a team of that caliber could bring global attention and economic benefits to the area.
“We are showing off Greensboro globally, and that is what is so important right now, the entire world is going to be watching the games, and having the Norwegian football team here is just icing on the cake,” said Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuiater.
Local leaders say the partnership is the result of collaboration between UNCG, the Greensboro Sports Foundation, the City of Greensboro, and the Greensboro Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, all working together to showcase the city as an international sports destination. Officials say the move could benefit the local hospitality industry by attracting international media coverage and visitors to local hotels, restaurants, and businesses.
UNCG leaders say the selection also highlights the university’s growing role in international soccer. In 2025, the campus served as a training facility for Brazil’s SE Palmeiras club during FIFA’s inaugural Club World Cup, demonstrating its ability to support elite professional teams. University leaders say hosting Team Norway is another opportunity to put Greensboro on the world stage.
“We’re a university of 19,000 students, richly diverse, a long tradition, a Division I sports tradition,” said UNCG Chancellor Frank Gilliam. “And you might not know that you say Greensboro? But as it turns out, yes, Greensboro.”
Officials say the Norwegian team is also expected to host at least one open practice at UNCG, giving local fans and young athletes the chance to see the team train ahead of the tournament.
Community leaders say the event is another step toward preparing Greensboro to host more international sporting events, including the 2029 World University Games. For now, they say welcoming Team Norway gives the city a unique opportunity to connect local sports fans with the global game. The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins June 11.