HNS can confirm that it has secured its preferred option, namely the base camp in Alexandria, which consists of the AKA Hotel and the training centre at Episcopal High School. The Vatreni will therefore be based in the city of Alexandria in the state of Virginia, in close proximity to the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C.
“We thoroughly analysed more than 60 potential base camps before the draw, and after learning the match locations we created a shortlist of camps that met our criteria, which we then visited in person and studied in detail. Upon returning from North America, we presented these options to head coach Zlatko Dalić and the coaching staff”, said team manager Iva Olivari.
An HNS delegation consisting of technical director Stipe Pletikosa, team manager Iva Olivari, and spokesperson Tomislav Pacak visited eight potential camps in the northeastern United States and Canada. Head coach Dalić and the coaching staff unanimously agreed that Alexandria was the best choice. Accordingly, Alexandria was HNS’s top priority among the five camps each association was required to submit.
“Alexandria offers us the best combination of an excellent training centre and a comfortable hotel, with immediate proximity to the airport and a good geographical position in relation to the cities where we will play our group-stage matches. From a sporting perspective, which is always our top priority, we will have truly top-class conditions at Episcopal High School — from the pitches and fitness facilities to recovery areas — so there were very few doubts. Everything felt right from the start, including the pleasant hosts at both the hotel and the training centre”, said technical director Pletikosa.
The AKA Hotel opened in April 2023 and, and alongside excellent guest reviews, has received multiple awards for its modern design by renowned Italian architect Piero Lissoni. Located near the Potomac River, the hotel offers 180 modernly appointed rooms in the heart of the Old Town, in a peaceful setting with excellent facilities for the team - from a fitness centre to dining, meeting and lounge areas. Ronald Reagan Airport is just a six-minute drive from the hotel.
“Based on everything we heard and saw, Alexandria was the best option for us, and I am pleased that we managed to secure this location. There are many factors that make a good base camp and that we took into account—from the conditions at the training center, the quality of the hotel, geographic location, distance from the airport, privacy, and surroundings—and in all aspects, Alexandria offers the best combination of these factors. Of course, the overall impression of a camp is ultimately shaped by results, so I hope Alexandria will remain in our memories just as fondly as ‘Forest Rhapsody’ in Russia or the Hilton in Doha”, emphasized head coach Zlatko Dalić.
Episcopal High School is about a 15-minute drive from the AKA Hotel, and its athletic facilities are among the best in the region. In addition to a top-standard football pitch, the training center offers a high-end fitness facility with a running track and cardiovascular training equipment, a fully equipped gym, and equally high-quality recovery facilities, including hydrotherapy, cryotherapy, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.
“Our obligation is always to provide the best possible conditions for the players and staff, both for sporting preparation and for recovery and accommodation. Alexandria was the first choice of our staff, and I am therefore confident that we will have everything the national team needs there—a top-class training center, a comfortable hotel, and peace and quiet. We are aware that a World Cup across such a vast territory will be a major logistical challenge, but we have an excellent, experienced, well-coordinated, and hardworking logistics team, with whom our national team is in the best possible hands”, said HNS president Marijan Kustić.
