Ivory Coast Selects Subaru Park for World Cup Training

The Ivory Coast national football team, Les Éléphants, has chosen Subaru Park in Chester as its official training site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Members of Les Éléphants from Côte d'Ivoire, the Ivory Coast, will arrive in June, according to a CBS News Philadelphia report. Subaru Park officials said that preparations for the team's arrival will increase in mid-May after the Philadelphia Union's final home match.

The field at Subaru Park will be adjusted to meet FIFA standards, including wider field lines and French signage.

"It's an exciting opportunity for us here at Subaru Park," Subaru Park vice president and general manager Brian Haggerty said in a statement shared with CBS News Philadelphia. "The World Cup is such a prestigious event."

Ivory Coast enters the FIFA World Cup tournament as the Africa Cup of Nations champions. Les Éléphants will play two World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, opening against Ecuador on June 14 and then facing Curaçao on June 25.

During their training in Chester, players will stay in Wilmington. The team will also utilize the WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester for practice during the tournament.

Subaru Park officials said they are considering ways for the public to watch the team practice, though details have not yet been announced.

The World Cup activities in Delaware County and nearby Philadelphia are expected to bring visitors from across the region and beyond, bolstering the Philadelphia area's economy.