Germany brings groundskeeper to Wake Forest for World Cup heat

Germany has brought veteran groundskeeper Sebastian Breuning to Winston-Salem to keep its training pitch in shape as North Carolina heat tests grass ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The decision puts a spotlight on the kind of field maintenance elite national teams now expect from their tournament bases, with Wake Forest University serving as the German Men’s National Team’s home in the Triad.

Wake Forest University announced on Jan. 9, 2026, that Germany had chosen Winston-Salem as its official training site and team headquarters, with practices at W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium and lodging at The Graylyn Estate. Wake Forest has described Spry Stadium as one of the nation’s premier collegiate soccer facilities, a claim that now comes with international scrutiny as Germany settles in for the tournament.

The German side’s attention to the playing surface reflects the practical challenge of staging high-level soccer in hot weather. Reuters reported that FIFA has already added three-minute water breaks in each half for all 104 World Cup matches because of soaring temperatures, a sign that heat management will shape play and preparation across the event. For Germany, that has meant treating the training field as a critical asset rather than a routine college venue.

Wake Forest opened the doors to the public on June 8, 2026, with an open training session for the German Men’s National Team from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium. The session underscored how quickly the German presence has turned into a public attraction in the Triad, where the university and city have been cast into an international spotlight.

Germany is one of three European men’s national teams with a North Carolina base for the World Cup, joining Norway and Scotland. That concentration has added to the state’s profile even though North Carolina is not hosting a match. It also shows how much planning now goes into training-site logistics, from lodging at The Graylyn Estate to the day-to-day care of grass under summer pressure.

Wake Forest’s men’s soccer program brings its own history to the job, with 23 NCAA tournament appearances from 2001 to 2024 and a national championship in 2007. Germany opens its World Cup campaign against Curacao on Sunday, with Wake Forest’s facilities now part of the team’s preparation for the tournament ahead.