Croatia soccer team practices at famed Virginia prep school, Episcopal, John McCain's alma mater

The 2026 FIFA World Cup games are set to begin in the U.S. this week in cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico with Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, hosting the Croatian team as its base camp.

Teams have base camps at different facilities throughout the country, four of which are private schools, according to Front Office Sports.

The Croatian team is practicing on Episcopal’s newest Bermuda grass field. Episcopal also hosted the U.S. women’s national team leading up to the Paris Olympics in 2024.

The late Naval officer and Arizona GOP Senator John McCain graduated from Episcopal in 1954. 

McCain left a legacy of leadership at the school, representing principles of honor and integrity, according to head of school Charles Stillwell. He was a prisoner of war for over five and a half years during the Vietnam War.

The Croatian team is staying at an Alexandria hotel, and its practices at Episcopal are closed to the public. Croatia is playing against England in Dallas, Texas, for their first match on June 17. 

Second-ranked Spain will practice at Baylor School, in Tennessee, eighth-ranked Morocco at The Pingry School, in New Jersey, and 19th-ranked Switzerland at San Diego Jewish Academy.

The tournament, featuring 48 teams, begins on Thursday, and it will come to an end on July 19, according to FIFA's website.

The United States men’s team is set to play on Friday at 9 p.m. versus Paraguay in Los Angeles Stadium.