Sports preparation is a crucial element for any professional team, especially in the run-up to high-level competitions such as the World Cup. In this context, the choice of training location can be decisive, leading federations to seek the best logistical options, even outside their home countries.
The Madrid region stands out for its top-tier infrastructure, which includes not only stadiums but also sports cities, gyms, physiotherapy rooms, and dining facilities. These amenities allow teams to reach their full potential, generating data and insights that are analyzed to determine competitive advantages.
A recent example is the Ecuadorian Federation, which held a seven-day preparatory camp in Madrid before the World Cup. They stayed at the NH Collection Eurobuilding hotel and used the Club Deportivo Leganés stadium for their training, in addition to playing a friendly match against Morocco at the Metropolitano.
Among the most notable facilities is the Valdebebas sports city, inaugurated in 2005 and home to Real Madrid. This complex, equivalent to 40 times the size of the Santiago Bernabéu, features 12 football pitches, gyms, a large physiotherapy center, offices, conference rooms, and a hydrotherapy area with pools, sauna, and Turkish bath. It also has a residence with 57 individual rooms and leisure areas.
Another significant option is the Atlético de Madrid sports city in Majadahonda, which offers five football pitches (three with natural grass) and gyms adapted for professional performance. Las Rozas, home to the Spanish National Team, is also a high-level complex with four football pitches, one specifically for goalkeepers, gyms, a sports center, and rooms for meetings and tactics.
Furthermore, towns such as Getafe and Leganés, south of the community, have facilities like the Coliseum and Butarque, respectively, along with sports cities equipped with natural grass pitches, gyms, and medical centers. The Community of Madrid will also host four sub-venues for the 2030 World Cup: Valdebebas, the Fernando Santos de la Parra Sports City (Getafe), the Rayo Vallecano Foundation Sports City, and the Butarque Sports City (Leganés).
The combination of a favorable climate, a varied range of services, and crucial air connectivity, with the airport serving as a strategic hub for European and American flights, consolidates Madrid as a central point for international sports preparation, with plans to expand this role in the coming years.
