English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Chattanooga, TN

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn — The Scenic City could soon become the home base for one of the world’s top soccer teams during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a report from Sports Illustrated Mexico.

The international tournament will be hosted in the United States this summer, with Chattanooga potentially serving as a Team Base Camp for the Spanish National Team.

Arsenal fan Katie Holloway says...

"That would just be super cool to have names from the Spanish team in town.”

The report says Spain is expected to play two games in Atlanta once group play begins.

The Spanish squad includes several players who also feature for English Premier League club Arsenal.

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly and officials with the Baylor School say the city is honored to be considered for the opportunity.

“Chattanooga is honored to be considered as a Team Base Camp. While we are excited for the potential opportunity, nothing is official at this time,” city leaders said in a statement.

Three Arsenal soccer players are on the 2026 roster for the Spanish national team and fan in Chattanooga like John Hoskins say they would be ecstatic if the team chose this site as their practice facility.

"These guys are truly some of the best players in the world and in the Premier League.”

Team Base Camps serve as training headquarters for national teams during the World Cup, offering space for practice, preparation and community engagement.

The 2026 World Cup will bring elite international soccer to several cities across the United States and Mexico, and interest in potential host communities has grown as plans move forward.

Last year, New Zealand’s world cup team, Auckland City FC, chose the Baylor School’s soccer complex as their training hub.

Depend on us to keep you posted as we continue to learn more.

For a few tense months, mountain bikers in Chattanooga, TN, faced losing six miles of their best singletrack to industrial development. The proposed land swap at Enterprise South Nature Park would have eliminated 38% of the bike-legal trails in the network. But after public outcry, Hamilton County has dropped plans to change the park’s deed restrictions, preserving the land for recreation and conservation.

Photos: SORBA Chattanooga Facebook

What was the controversy?

On paper, the land swap didn’t seem too bad: Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp called for designating 535 acres of land in Enterprise South for an industrial development while simultaneously preserving an adjacent 1,300 acres at the McDonald Farm. However, the 535 acres proposed for development at Enterprise South included the Atlas mountain bike trail. While official documents claim that the park offers 60 miles of trails and roads, only 15.5 miles are bike-legal singletrack. The threatened Atlas trail comprises about 38% of that mileage, at six miles long. It’s also widely regarded by local riders as one of the best trails in the network.

The local advocacy group, SORBA Chattanooga, didn’t learn about the proposed development until it came out in the news. Many residents noted that choosing between developing 535 acres of Enterprise South and preserving 1,300 acres of McDonald Farm is a false dichotomy. “We’re advocating for the preservation of both properties for outdoor recreation and conservation,” SORBA Chattanooga Executive Director Sunshine Loveless told Singletracks. “It shouldn’t be a choice between one or the other. We believe the county is capable of and should be preserving both.”

A Change.org petition to “Save Enterprise South Nature Park” gathered 12,651 signatures over the past three months as the community rallied against the proposal.

“After completing due diligence related to Enterprise South Nature Park, last week the county decided not to pursue deed restriction changes to the previously identified 535 acres within the nature park,” said Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp in a press release.

“Throughout the public input process, we heard from citizens who value the nature park as well as the history and legacy of McDonald Farm,” Wamp continued. “In the months ahead, we will work with city and state officials to identify sites better suited for future job creation, while advancing a broader vision for McDonald Farm in the best interest of taxpayers.”

“Today is a good day for Enterprise South Nature Park,” wrote SORBA Chattanooga on Instagram and Facebook. “This decision preserves Enterprise South and ensures its trails remain protected and open to the public for recreation.”

“Enterprise South is one of the most heavily used outdoor spaces in our community — home to miles of trails enjoyed by hikers, mountain bikers, families, and nature lovers year-round. We’re grateful to see these lands remain protected for current and future generations,” SORBA Chattanooga continued.

“We also want to acknowledge everyone who participated in the public input process. Community engagement, transparency, and careful review matter — and this outcome reflects that.

“SORBA Chattanooga looks forward to continuing our partnership with local leaders, land managers, and community members to steward Enterprise South, while remaining a valuable stakeholder in conversations about the future of McDonald Farm.”

This trail advocacy victory in Chattanooga shows what’s possible when local trail users mobilize quickly and speak clearly about what they want. After trail losses in nearby North Carolina and ongoing threats in Nashville, it’s encouraging to see Chattanooga successfully protect these trails.

This week, while most restaurants scored highly during their routine and follow-up inspections, health inspectors did catch improper food storage, mishandling of sanitizer, and other cleaning products.

House of Teriyaki TN in Chattanooga received a 76.

Inspectors saw employees drinking from unapproved containers in a food prep area, allowing for the possible contamination of food or food contact surfaces.

The restaurant was cited for having raw food too close to ready-to-eat food. Inspectors found grilled chicken and rice sitting at room temperature, waiting for use.

The report also documented wet cleaning cloths sitting on surfaces, instead of being stored in sanitizer.

Howard Johnsons in Chattanooga received an 84.

Health inspectors discovered that water in the triple sink was unable to operate, resulting in improper sanitization of dishes and utensils. Triple sinks were noted as being dirty, with no chemical test being provided for the sanitizer.

Cleaning products, food, and single-service items were found to be stored within the same storage closet. Food items and single-service products were also stored on the floor.

The inspectors say there was no probe thermometer or thermometer inside the upright freezer.

Mr. Burrito Friends, Inc. in Chattanooga received an 87.

Sour cream was stored in a cooler sitting at 55F. Inspectors instructed them to discard the sour cream and post a “do not use” sign on the cooler until repairs are able to be made.

Sanitizer bucket chlorine sanitizer was found at a high concentration, 200 ppm, instead of the required level of 50 ppm. The inspector educated staff.

The inspector also found dry ingredients stored in unlabeled, non-original containers.

If you have a question about a restaurant, hotel, pool, or gym - call your local health department.

Hamilton County

Bradley County

Catoosa County

Dade County

Murray County

Walker County

Whitfield County

Local 3 News checks state health inspection reports every week. The scores reflect the previous week's score. Follow-up inspection scores are updated the following week.