Iraq sets final World Cup training camp in West Virginia

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's national football team has opened its final training camp before the 2026 FIFA World Cup at The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, ahead of its first match in 40 years. The squad arrived in the area by private charter from Chicago and will use the resort as its base throughout the tournament. Head coach Graham Arnold led preparation friendlies against Venezuela, Spain and Andorra before moving the team to the camp. Team officials cited the resort's high-performance training facilities and its proximity to host cities as decisive factors in selecting the site. Iraq will travel to Boston after the camp for its opening World Cup match against Norway on June 16. It is the country's first World Cup appearance since 1986, ending a 40-year absence from the tournament. Iraq faces France in its second Group I match and Senegal in its third.