When investigating possible pre-World Cup training sites throughout Europe, the U.S. Women’s National Team coaching and administrative staff knew what boxes they wanted to check. It was then a matter of finding a facility that checked those boxes.

Sites were evaluated in France, Spain, Portugal, England and Italy. In the end, there was a consensus number-one choice from the coaches: “We want to go to Tottenham.”

The Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre in Enfield, England, looks amazing in photos. It’s even better when experienced in real life.

World-class fields: √

Excellent food: √

Serene and relaxing: √

High-end sleeping rooms: √

Top-of-the-line media facilities: √

Quality gym, equipment rooms, training rooms: √, √, √



It’s an environment that U.S. head coach Jill Ellis and her staff wanted to provide for the players ahead of what will be the most competitive Women’s World Cup in history and she’s appreciative that U.S. Soccer was willing to work with Tottenham to organize the 10-day training camp.

“It’s the perfect place to focus on our on-field preparations, but it’s also a place that promotes synergy and a social aspect because of the surroundings,” said Ellis. “It’s just beautiful and the housing and amenities are world class. All-in-all, the combination of providing for the players’ bodies and minds is like nothing I’ve ever seen.”