"There's a lot to be said for Blankenhain": DFB chooses new base camp

Florian Wirtz and Joshua Kimmich know it, Harry Kane and his colleagues from the English national soccer team also recovered from the stresses and strains of training and matches here during Euro 2024. The Spa & Golfresort Weimarer Land has long been regarded as a retreat for footballers who want to prepare in peace and seclusion under optimal conditions.

The German Football Association has therefore decided to set up its base camp in Blankenhain in future. A partnership agreement to this effect was signed by DFB Managing Director of Sport Andreas Rettig, Thuringia's Minister President Mario Voigt (CDU) and DFB Vice President Hermann Winkler. The agreement is initially set to run for six years.

Change of equipment supplier makes new accommodation necessary

A new venue for the DFB footballers had become necessary as the "World of Sports" campus, which belongs to the Herzogenaurach-based group, will no longer be available for the DFB from 2027 following the change of equipment supplier from Adidas to Nike. "Until then, however, we won't be avoiding Herzogenaurach," said Rettig, who would also like to continue using the DFB campus in Frankfurt as a training base. "There is nothing against our campus, but a lot in favor of Blankenhain," said the DFB Managing Director.

In any case, the Free State is proud to be able to host the men's and women's A teams as well as U representatives in the future. "Thuringia will be a good host," said Voigt, referring to the benefits that the Free State will derive from the partnership. The national team's training camp ahead of the 2024 European Championship alone had generated so much publicity that was financially equivalent to around 100 million euros.

And even more teams are set to be attracted to the Weimar region. The Bundesliga footballers from VfL Wolfsburg have already discovered Blankenhain for themselves. "Once you've been here, you keep coming back," said the Minister President.

Blankenhain knows its way around big teams

The hotel and training grounds are not new territory for the DFB footballers. Before the home European Championships, national coach Julian Nagelsmann prepared his squad for the tournament there for a while. During the European Championships, the England national team with Bayern star Harry Kane stayed in Weimarer Land. The resort offers a training facility built to FIFA standards with several grass pitches as well as the seclusion and retreat options that are so important for the teams.

And these are to be expanded to meet soccer requirements, according to the resort management. A functional building and perhaps an extra hotel are being considered and could well be supported by the Thuringian state government with funding, announced Minister President Voigt.