Panama to train at Nottawasaga Resort ahead of World Cup
Posted April 17, 2026
The Panama men’s national soccer team will make New Tecumseth its home away from home this summer, selecting the Nottawasaga Resort as its base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Officials from the Panamanian Football Federation recently completed what it described as a successful inspection tour of the team’s Canadian headquarters and tournament venues, confirming the resort north of Toronto as the squad’s training and accommodation site during the group stage. More details on the team’s stay and community plans are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The selection marks the second time the Nottawasaga Resort has hosted a pre-World Cup training camp. In 1994, Germany — then the defending World Cup champion — used the Alliston-area resort to prepare for the tournament in the United States.
For New Tecumseth, the return of World Cup preparations places the municipality back on the global soccer stage more than three decades later.
Panama coach Thomas Christiansen said the location offers a competitive advantage, noting the team will be roughly 80 minutes from Toronto while avoiding the congestion of staying in a major city. Federation officials also praised the convenience of having training facilities on-site, eliminating the need for daily bus travel.
Panama will open its campaign at Toronto Stadium, also known as BMO Field, where it is scheduled to play two group-stage matches before travelling to the New York/New Jersey area for its third game. The World Cup begins June 11.
The Central American nation is set for only its second World Cup appearance after debuting at Russia 2018. It has been drawn into a difficult group featuring England, Ghana and Croatia.
The choice of New Tecumseth is expected to bring international attention and a wave of supporters to the Alliston area, with direct flights from Panama to Toronto also cited as a logistical benefit for travelling fans.
Story aided by AI
