Gardens North County District Park in Palm Beach Gardens and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton have been selected as potential team base camps for a World Cup team this summer, offering a chance for local soccer enthusiasts to witness top-tier players in action.Tim Ford, the sports and special facilities director for the city of Palm Beach Gardens, expressed confidence in the park’s facilities. “We put our pitches up against any pitches, any soccer fields in the country,” Ford said. He said he believes the quality of the park’s fields is a key reason for its selection. “These teams have the opportunity to train anywhere in the world, anywhere in the United States,” Ford said. “And yet they choose to come to Palm Beach Gardens.”This isn’t the first time the park has hosted international teams. Last summer, Real Madrid, one of the world’s most popular teams, trained there.Uruguay’s team was there in 2024.Ford said the park’s reputation has spread globally, attracting more international teams, which means more visitors and a boost to the local economy. “It means heads in beds. It’s a lot of room nights for a few weeks at a time; these teams come in,” Ford said. “It’s created quite an impact on our community.”Khristian Turcios, a goaltender practicing on the field Thursday, said he’s looking forward to seeing the best players in the world in his own backyard. “I think it’ll be a great opportunity for kids to come see the pros, see them train, see how hard they work and what it takes to make it to that level,” Turcios said.While there is no confirmation yet on which team will be coming or when, officials said they hope to make an announcement soon.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. —
Gardens North County District Park in Palm Beach Gardens and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton have been selected as potential team base camps for a World Cup team this summer, offering a chance for local soccer enthusiasts to witness top-tier players in action.
Tim Ford, the sports and special facilities director for the city of Palm Beach Gardens, expressed confidence in the park’s facilities.
“We put our pitches up against any pitches, any soccer fields in the country,” Ford said.
He said he believes the quality of the park’s fields is a key reason for its selection.
“These teams have the opportunity to train anywhere in the world, anywhere in the United States,” Ford said. “And yet they choose to come to Palm Beach Gardens.”
This isn’t the first time the park has hosted international teams.
Last summer, Real Madrid, one of the world’s most popular teams, trained there.
Uruguay’s team was there in 2024.
Ford said the park’s reputation has spread globally, attracting more international teams, which means more visitors and a boost to the local economy.
“It means heads in beds. It’s a lot of room nights for a few weeks at a time; these teams come in,” Ford said. “It’s created quite an impact on our community.”
Khristian Turcios, a goaltender practicing on the field Thursday, said he’s looking forward to seeing the best players in the world in his own backyard.
“I think it’ll be a great opportunity for kids to come see the pros, see them train, see how hard they work and what it takes to make it to that level,” Turcios said.
While there is no confirmation yet on which team will be coming or when, officials said they hope to make an announcement soon.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
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