Anti-atomic bunker, site of the first Ryder Cup, home of the Bianconeri: inside the Juventus retreat

Juventus' Club World Cup adventure has officially begun. Tudor has called up 28 players, including the two Next Gen goalkeepers (Daffara and Garofani) and two long-term patients (Bremer and Milik) who will most likely not take to the field. To avoid constant travel across the vast United States, the Bianconeri have chosen two locations for their retreat : the first for the two matches against Al-Ain and Wydad Casablanca (scheduled for June 18 and 22, respectively), the second for the last match of the group stage against Manchester City (scheduled for June 26). The subsequent schedule will be decided based on the continuation of the tournament.

From the West Virginia countryside to a metropolitan area with over 2.5 million inhabitants. To prepare for the last match of the group stage against Manchester City, Juve will move to Florida, to Orlando. In this city known for its amusement parks (Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Florida and SeaWorld) the Bianconeri will find a warmer climate: the average temperatures in June here range between 23 (minimum) and 32 degrees (maximum).

The location of Juventus' retreat in the United States for the first part of the Club World Cup will be in the town of White Sulphur Springs , a town of just over 2,000 inhabitants in the state of West Virginia. Situated about 560 meters above sea level and surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains (a chain of the imposing Appalachian Mountains), the town is known for its thermal springs. The climate that awaits the Bianconeri will be better than that of Italy: the average temperatures in June are between 13 (minimum) and 20 degrees (maximum).

If it weren't for the fact that Juventus's players' primary goal is to play soccer and get as far as possible in the Club World Cup, they'd be in a land of plenty. "The Greenbrier America's Resort", the structure that will host Tudor's team, has 710 rooms and 64 cottages and is located in an area of ​​4,500 hectares. Inside the complex you can find everything: 9 bars, 11 restaurants (including two specifically for pizza and one dedicated to NBA legend Jerry West), 20 shops (including a candy shop, a garden gnome shop and a hairdresser), and an endless series of activities. They range from the casino to the disco, from the escape room to the arcade, from fishing to horse riding, from off-road adventures to e-bike adventures, from climbing to falconry courses, from kayaking to paintball, and even pickleball. It's no coincidence that since its construction in 1913, it has hosted 28 presidents of the United States.

In Florida, Juventus will be hosted at the "Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate", a structure that extends over an area of ​​300 hectares, inside which there are over 1,000 rooms, suites and villas, nine restaurants, two golf courses, six swimming pools, a wellness center, a fitness center and tennis, pickleball and basketball courts. Among the many possible activities, also sea bass fishing.

The resort also houses the "Greenbrier Sports Performance Center", the sports center where Tudor's team will train. Here too, maximum comfort is expected: on an area of ​​approximately 5,200 square meters there are three fields (two grass and one synthetic), meeting rooms, a gym, swimming pools, locker rooms for players and coaches, a hydrotherapy room and a tennis court with a 2,500-seat stand. This structure, in the past, has hosted, among others, the football teams of the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers.

An incredible curiosity about the resort that will host Juventus during the first part of the Club World Cup is linked to the Cold War years. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the American government reached an agreement with the "Greenbrier" to build an anti-atomic bunker inside the structure. "Greek Island Project" was the code name for the operation. Built from 1959 to 1962, the shelter was available to the authorities until 1992: in case of emergency, members of the United States Congress would be hosted inside.

The jewel in the crown of "The Greenbrier America's Resort", however, are the 4 golf courses: "The Old White" and "The Meadows" with 18 holes, "The Greenbrier" with 10 holes and "The Ashford Short Course", with 9 holes. The resort entered the history of this sport by hosting the first edition of the Ryder Cup as we know it today, that is, as a challenge between the United States and Europe.