Dear Bentley community,
When the world’s #1 football team, l’Équipe de France de Football, chose Bentley University as its official Team Base Camp Training Site for the FIFA World Cup 2026, we knew we were taking on something extraordinary. Something that would indeed require an extraordinary effort from across our campus. Now that the 2026 World Cup has ended, admittedly slightly earlier than any of us had hoped for Les Bleus, I want to pause and thank members of the community for their remarkable work over these past several months, and all of you for your patience and support as we navigated this effort.
Hosting the French national team was one of the more complex undertakings our university has managed, and it succeeded only because so many people gave so much of themselves. Since early this year, colleagues from athletics, facilities, finance, marketing and communications, events, emergency management, legal, information technology, procurement, operations, University Police and the President’s Office have worked side by side, often behind the scenes and around the clock. From preparing the all-important pitch to standing up round-the-clock security, from coordinating with FIFA, the French Football Federation and our partners in Waltham to welcoming media from multiple continents, you handled every detail with professionalism, creativity and care.
I know how much was poured into this effort. The success of this partnership was never measured by a scoreline or a World Cup trophy for our guests. It was measured by the way our community rose to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, put Bentley and the city of Waltham on a global stage, and represented this university with excellence for the world to see.
The pride I feel in this community runs deep. You showed our students, our neighbors and millions of people around the world exactly who we are: a university that meets big challenges with skill, heart and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. The relationships we built, the goodwill we generated and the lessons we learned will benefit Bentley for years to come.
To the members of the Bentley–French National Team Working Group and to every colleague who contributed in ways large and small: thank you. Thank you for your long hours, your patience, your ingenuity and your teamwork. You made history here, and you did it together. I could not be more grateful or more proud to serve alongside you.
Merci beaucoup,
Brent
