Forget marble halls and gold-plated taps. Brazil’s World Cup squad has set up camp in a purpose-built complex in the English countryside, and it looks less like a luxury hotel and more like a high-performance factory floor. The message from the Brazilian Football Confederation is clear: this is about winning, not lounging.
The base, situated on a sprawling estate in a quiet corner of the Home Counties, features state-of-the-art training pitches, a dedicated recovery suite, and a nutrition centre that could double as a laboratory. But what sets it apart is the focus on psychological comfort. There is a games room with a PlayStation console, a cinema screen for team video sessions, and a kitchen churning out protein ice cream and tailored meals.
“This is the most prepared I’ve ever felt for a tournament,” said one squad member, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The food is incredible. They measure everything. But they also know we need to switch off.”
The investment in infrastructure reflects a broader trend in international football. National teams are no longer content with simply booking hotel rooms. They want control over every variable: diet, sleep, training load, even the colour of the walls. Brazil’s camp cost an estimated £8 million to build and operate, a sum that would fund hundreds of grassroots pitches back home. But the federation argues that success on the pitch trickles down.
“When the national team wins, the whole country benefits,” said a spokesperson for the Brazilian Football Confederation. “We have a duty to give our players the best possible environment. That means world-class facilities and world-class support.”
Still, critics question the extravagance. With millions of Brazilians struggling with inflation and poverty, the contrast is stark. “It’s a football factory for the elite,” said Marina Silva, a sports sociologist at the University of São Paulo. “While the country suffers, the players are eating protein ice cream and playing FIFA. It’s not a good look.”
The camp’s design, however, is not all luxury. The bedrooms are functional, the WiFi is secure, and there are no unnecessary frills. The aim is to recreate the intensity of a tournament environment while shielding the players from outside distractions. England’s own base in St George’s Park follows a similar philosophy, though with less samba flair.
As the team prepares for its opening match, the pressure is immense. Brazil has not won the World Cup since 2002, and the nation expects. The protein ice cream might help, but ultimately, it is the results on the pitch that will determine whether this carefully crafted camp was worth the cost.
