The German Men’s National Team will hold an open training session at Wake Forest University’s W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium on Monday, June 8, 2026, as part of its official preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The session will be accessible to the public and marks one of the first major community engagements since the team arrived in Winston-Salem earlier that week. This event underscores the unique partnership between the Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB), Wake Forest University and The Graylyn Estate, which has designated the Triad region as the team’s home base during the tournament.
According to verified reports from Wake Forest University Athletics and local Winston-Salem media, the German squad arrived in the city on June 8, 2026, following a series of pre-tournament fixtures. The team departed Frankfurt on June 2, played a final friendly against the United States in Chicago on June 6, and then traveled to Winston-Salem to initiate its World Cup preparations. The open training session at Spry Stadium is scheduled for the same day as their arrival, offering fans and media an early opportunity to observe the four-time World Cup champions in action.
Wake Forest’s W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium has been recognized as one of the nation’s premier collegiate soccer facilities, a factor cited by Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann as critical in selecting the venue. In a statement reported by Winston-Salem.com, Nagelsmann emphasized the importance of proximity to training pitches, noting that the cooperation with Wake Forest eliminates logistical challenges associated with transporting equipment from Germany. “The most important factor is the proximity to the training pitches,” he said. “We already find many things available on site and don’t have to bring everything from Germany.”
The German team will reside at The Graylyn Estate during its stay in Winston-Salem, a historic boutique hotel renowned for its architectural significance and premium accommodations. This arrangement allows players and staff to remain centralized near the training facility, minimizing travel time and supporting optimal recovery and preparation. The estate has hosted numerous high-profile teams and events in the past, further cementing its reputation as a preferred destination for elite sports delegations.
Wake Forest University President Dr. Susan R. Wente expressed pride in hosting the German national team, calling it a reflection of the university’s growing influence in collegiate athletics. “Wake Forest University is truly honored to host the German Men’s National Team as its official training base for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” she stated in a university press release. “We are eager to welcome one of the world’s premier soccer teams to Winston-Salem, our Triad community, and to Wake Forest’s Spry Soccer Stadium – one of the top soccer facilities in the nation.”
The athletics department highlighted recent successes within its own soccer programs as evidence of the institution’s readiness to support elite international teams. The Wake Forest women’s soccer team finished as the 2024 NCAA runner-up, although the men’s team captured the 2024 ACC Championship. Vice President and Athletics Director John Currie noted that hosting the German squad reinforces the university’s commitment to excellence in soccer culture. “Hosting a four-time World Cup champion reflects the strength of our university soccer culture, which is truly world-class,” Currie said in a statement to WFUOGB.com.
The open training session on June 8 is expected to draw significant local and regional interest, with organizers planning fan engagement activities and media access points around the stadium. While specific details about ticketing, attendance limits, or autograph opportunities have not been disclosed in verified sources, the event is framed as a community-oriented initiative designed to bring the excitement of the World Cup closer to residents of Winston-Salem and the surrounding Triad area.
Germany’s 2026 World Cup campaign begins with a match against Curaçao in Houston on June 14, followed by fixtures against Ivory Coast in Toronto on June 20 and Ecuador in Fresh Jersey on June 25. The team’s time in Winston-Salem will serve as its final preparatory phase before departing for these matches. After the June 8 session, the squad is expected to continue closed-door training at Spry Stadium in the days leading up to its first World Cup appearance.
This collaboration between an international football powerhouse and American academic and hospitality institutions represents a growing trend in how host cities leverage global sporting events to showcase local infrastructure and community spirit. For Wake Forest and Winston-Salem, the German team’s presence offers a rare opportunity to gain international visibility while providing residents with direct access to elite-level soccer.
Fans interested in attending the open training session are encouraged to monitor official channels from Wake Forest University Athletics and the City of Winston-Salem for updates on access procedures, parking, and event timing as the date approaches. No official livestream or broadcast details have been confirmed through verified sources at this time.
The German Men’s National Team’s open training session at Spry Stadium on June 8, 2026, stands as a milestone in the buildup to the 2026 FIFA World Cup — not only for the team’s preparations but also for the Winston-Salem community’s role in hosting one of the sport’s most storied franchises.
Stay tuned to World Today Journal for continued coverage of the German team’s World Cup journey and other major developments in international football.
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