The red-and-white checkered colours of Croatia are already rolling through the streets of Alexandria as excitement builds ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A city bus operated by Alexandria’s DASH public transport system has been wrapped in Croatia’s iconic checkerboard design, complete with a large banner declaring: “Alexandria welcomes the Croatian National Team for the World Cup.”
The striking image, which has quickly spread across social media, marks another sign of the warm welcome awaiting the Croatian national football team in the United States next summer.
Earlier this year, the Croatian Football Federation officially selected Alexandria, Virginia, as the team’s home base for the tournament after reviewing more than 60 potential locations across the country.
The Croatian squad will use Episcopal High School as its private training facility, while players and staff will stay at Hotel AKA Alexandria during the World Cup.
For the city of Alexandria, the arrival of one of the world’s most recognisable football nations represents far more than just sport. Local officials are already preparing a series of cultural events, exhibitions and culinary festivals aimed at celebrating Croatian culture and building closer ties between the community and visiting supporters.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins expressed her excitement in an interview with Nova TV. “Words cannot describe how excited I am. Everyone is thrilled that we will be welcoming you. We feel like you are family, and that is bigger than football. We want you to become part of our community,” said Gaskins.
She added that the city hopes to create a lasting friendship with Croatia that extends well beyond the tournament itself.
The decision to base the Croatian team in Alexandria has also placed the city firmly in the international sporting spotlight ahead of what is expected to be one of the biggest sporting events ever hosted in North America.
@dubrovnik_times South winds bring crashing seas in Dubrovnik #croatia #dubrovnik #traveltiktok ♬ original sound – The Dubrovnik Times