Stockton to be paid nearly $500,000 to host teams

Stockton University said it will collect nearly $500,000 for serving as a team base camp for two FIFA events — the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup — extending a soccer-hosting role the South Jersey school has been building for more than a year. President Joe Bertolino said the payment covers hosting services tied to both tournaments, according to a May 22 report by The Press of Atlantic City. Stockton has already been selected by Brazil’s CR Flamengo for the Club World Cup and by Haiti for the 2026 World Cup, according to university announcements. The arrangements center on Stockton’s athletic facilities in Galloway, New Jersey, including G. Larry James Stadium and the Sports Center. ### Which teams is Stockton hosting, and for which tournaments? CR Flamengo chose Stockton as its training base for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the university said in a Feb. 6 announcement. The Rio de Janeiro club is scheduled to arrive on June 11 and train at Stockton before matches in Philadelphia on June 16 against Espérance Sportive de Tunisie and June 20 against Chelsea FC. Haiti selected Stockton as its Team Base Camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the university said on May 19. The Haitian national team is scheduled to arrive on June 8 and train at Stockton ahead of group-stage matches against Scotland on June 13 in Boston, Brazil on June 19 in Philadelphia and Morocco on June 24 in Atlanta. ### What exactly is Stockton being paid for? The Press of Atlantic City reported on May 23 that Stockton will be paid nearly $500,000 to host teams for the FIFA Club World Cup and the World Cup. Bertolino said the money covers hosting services for both events, according to the report. Stockton’s public statements do not spell out the full payment structure, but the university has described the operational role in detail. The teams are to use two natural-grass outdoor fields, including G. Larry James Stadium, and the Sports Center, which includes physical therapy space and meeting rooms for coaching staffs. ### Why did teams pick a public university in South Jersey? Stockton officials have pointed to the school’s grass fields and prior experience with international teams. Tony Berich, Stockton’s executive director of Athletics and Campus Recreation, said in the university’s Feb. 6 release that “it all starts with the field,” referring to the Bermuda grass surface at G. Larry James Stadium. Jeff Haines, Stockton’s associate director of Athletics and Recreation, said in the May 19 release that Haiti’s selection put Stockton alongside national teams, Olympic teams and foreign clubs that have used the campus over three decades. Stockton said it previously hosted Saudi Arabia’s 1994 World Cup team, Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic team and CR Flamengo during the 2025 Club World Cup cycle. ### Will the public be able to watch? Stockton said on June 5, 2025, that access would be restricted during CR Flamengo’s stay. The university said all practices and training sessions would be closed to employees and the general public, with no credentials or passes issued for the secured perimeter around the Sports Center and G. Larry James Stadium. The university has not, in the materials reviewed, announced a different public-access plan for Haiti’s 2026 training camp. Its May 19 statement focused on the team’s arrival date, facilities and match schedule. ### What happens next on campus? June 8 is the next date on Stockton’s calendar for the World Cup arrangement, when Haiti is due to arrive in Galloway for training. June 11 is the next date for the Club World Cup arrangement, when CR Flamengo is scheduled to begin its stay at Stockton. June 13 brings Haiti’s opening World Cup match against Scotland in Boston, and June 16 brings Flamengo’s first Club World Cup match against Espérance in Philadelphia. Stockton said both teams will use G. Larry James Stadium and related campus facilities as their base before those games.