Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, New Tecumseth’s selection as a base camp host for the Panamanian men's national soccer team raised some eyebrows.
But for those familiar with Nottawasaga Resort, it wasn’t exactly a surprise.
The Alliston resort has hosted national teams for decades, including the German men's national team ahead of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the eventual champion United States women's national team during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
According to Sylvia Biffis, Nottawasaga Resort's director of sales, that history—and a facility that combines accommodations, dining, a conference centre, and two on-site soccer pitches—helped make the resort an attractive option once again.
"You really won't find anything like that in Canada, and it's very rare to find even in North America," she told Barrie360.
That experience, combined with a long-standing relationship with Canada Soccer, helped position the resort as a candidate when FIFA began identifying potential team base camps.
"It reminds people that we can host world-class teams and that we're a full training site with the pitches here." she said. "I think it's reminding people that we're still around."
Through the selection process, Canada Soccer recommended the resort as a potential base camp host. From there, FIFA toured the grounds, which grew its confidence and trust in the area, and teams started to garner interest. FIFA ultimately assigned base camps based on match locations in Toronto and team rankings.
Biffis says three national federations, including Panama, were specifically interested in training in Alliston.
Panama will play its group stage matches in Toronto, with a potential round of 16 tie also scheduled there, should the squad finish as the runner-up in its group.
No other team is guaranteed multiple games in Toronto during the tournament.
Nottawasaga Resort is one of just two base camps in Canada for the FIFA World Cup, with the other in Vancouver hosting the Canadian men.
So far, the facilities appear to have left a positive first impression on the players.
"I'm a nature lover, and I think the surroundings are very beautiful," goalkeeper César Samudio said in Spanish through a Panamanian Football Federation translator at Thursday's press conference. "The facilities are very good, and I feel very comfortable; the group feels very comfortable... I know it will help us a lot to be here."
While the resort has hosted elite teams before, preparations for a World Cup squad involve heightened security and extensive coordination. Biffis said staff work closely with team officials on everything from meals to practice schedules, while additional fencing and privacy measures have been installed around the training grounds.
"We anticipated a lot of this process already and the communication was very clear from FIFA what was expected in regards to the field," she said. "The accommodation the food side, we do this every day for conventions, so it's nothing outside of the ordinary other than accommodating any special specialty meals. We're working really closely with their chef and their nutritionist and it becomes a very seamless process because we've had the experience of doing this before."
Anyone driving past the resort on Highway 89 will notice an increased presence of first responders and security, as well as blacked-out 10-foot high fencing surrounding the pitches for the sake of privacy.
The OPP has also enacted a no-fly zone over the area for the duration of the tournament.
Despite the layers of protection, Biffis says the high-profile nature of the event and the presence of the athletes is causing a buzz in the community.
"It's built up a lot of excitement," she said. "A World Cup in Canada and having games here, who knows if that's going to be once in our lifetime. I think it's so exciting for the community to know that a team is actually practicing here."
For a town of just over 50,000 people, it marks a rare front-row seat to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
