England and Portugal Share Training Complex Ahead of 2026 World Cup, But England Barred from Portugal’s Reserved Pitches

The England national team, preparing for the 2026 World Cup in Florida, will share the Gardens North County District Park training complex in Palm Beach Gardens with Portugal. However, England is prevented from using the football pitches designated for the Portuguese team due to competition regulations.

The Gardens North County District Park is a large facility spanning over 330,000 square meters and includes ten football pitches built to FIFA standard dimensions. This allows both national teams to be accommodated simultaneously within the same complex. Despite this shared location, England’s squad, managed by Thomas Tuchel, will not have access to the pitches allocated to Portugal.

This restriction is in place to comply with FIFA’s "Field Protection Period" rule, which prohibits teams from using their training pitches during the 28 days before their arrival. The rule aims to preserve the quality of the playing surfaces ahead of the tournament. As a result, although England and Portugal are based at the same complex, England cannot train on the fields specifically reserved for Portugal during this period.

England’s team has been in the United States since June 1st to acclimatize to the local climate. According to reports from The Athletic, the English delegation was informed of this limitation prior to their departure and has expressed satisfaction with the alternative training facilities available within the same complex. This arrangement ensures that both teams can prepare effectively despite the restrictions.

In the lead-up to the World Cup, England has scheduled friendly matches against New Zealand in Tampa and Costa Rica in Orlando. Following these fixtures, the team will relocate to Kansas, where they will establish their base for the duration of the tournament. Meanwhile, Portugal continues its preparations in Portugal’s Cidade do Futebol and will play two warm-up matches against Chile and Nigeria on home soil before traveling to the United States.

As the World Cup approaches, the shared use of the Palm Beach Gardens training complex highlights the logistical challenges of accommodating multiple teams in close proximity while adhering to FIFA’s regulations. Both England and Portugal will need to manage their training schedules carefully to maintain pitch quality and ensure optimal preparation for the tournament.