Four locations in New Jersey will serve as the base camp sites for four of the participating teams in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which begins later this month.
African club Al Ahly FC, Brazilian side CR Flamengo, Portuguese club FC Porto and Red Bull Salzburg will all be, at least partially, based out of training sites throughout the Garden State.
Red Bull Salzburg will utilize the New York Red Bulls’ training facility in Whippany, New Jersey.
FC Porto will be based at Rutgers University’s Piscataway campus, CR Flamengo will train out of Stockton University’s campus just outside of Atlantic City and Al Ahly will be based at the Pingry School in Basking Ridge.
All four teams will primarily play their group stage matches in the Northeast.
“The clubs, their players, coaches, management, staff and fans will build incredible connections with the local people that support them throughout the tournament,” FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said in a statement.
The 32-team tournament will begin on Saturday, June 14, with a match between Al Ahly and MLS side Inter Miami.
The first game of the Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium will be the following day between Brazilian side Palmeiras and FC Porto.