France’s national soccer team will train at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, starting on June 11, utilizing the entire Bentley Arena facility during their 2026 FIFA World Cup participation. From the rink to the locker room and training center, the 2022 World Cup runners-up will use the university’s equipment alongside gear brought from France to prepare for the tournament. “An enormous responsibility, but an enormous opportunity to be linked, for Waltham to be linked, for Bentley University to be linked with an event of this magnitude,” Bentley University Athletic Director Vaughn Williams said. Bentley’s grass field was a significant factor in FIFA’s decision to select the facility, as it is one of the few true grass fields in the area. “This is the most important part of their stay,” Williams said. “We have to have a certain requirement and specs that we have to meet, certain equipment that we have to use, and for elements to make sure that it is playable the way it needs to be done, so that’s what we’re doing right now.” Security will be a major focus, with privacy fences surrounding the facility and heightened security measures in place.

WALTHAM, Mass. —

France’s national soccer team will train at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, starting on June 11, utilizing the entire Bentley Arena facility during their 2026 FIFA World Cup participation.

From the rink to the locker room and training center, the 2022 World Cup runners-up will use the university’s equipment alongside gear brought from France to prepare for the tournament.

“An enormous responsibility, but an enormous opportunity to be linked, for Waltham to be linked, for Bentley University to be linked with an event of this magnitude,” Bentley University Athletic Director Vaughn Williams said.

Bentley’s grass field was a significant factor in FIFA’s decision to select the facility, as it is one of the few true grass fields in the area.

“This is the most important part of their stay,” Williams said. “We have to have a certain requirement and specs that we have to meet, certain equipment that we have to use, and for elements to make sure that it is playable the way it needs to be done, so that’s what we’re doing right now.”

Security will be a major focus, with privacy fences surrounding the facility and heightened security measures in place.