Home of the Camel cigarette
The DFB stars during the World Cup live in this US city
June 8, 2026 – 6:54 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
German settlers, Camel cigarettes and lots of culture: Winston-Salem is hosting the German team for the 2026 World Cup. But the idyllic city also has its dark sides.
Julian Nagelsmann was enthusiastic. When the national coach and his team arrived in Winston-Salem on Monday, he raved about the atmosphere there: “We find great conditions here, both on the pitch and outside of the green grass.” Peace, friendliness, sportsmanship – this is what the city of 250,000 inhabitants in North Carolina should offer the German World Cup squad.
However, Winston-Salem is more than just a training setting. The city combines German roots, American industrial history and the transformation into a knowledge and cultural metropolis, which also brings with it social tensions.
- This is how the DFB stars live at the World Cup
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A tangible past
The city is located in the so-called Piedmont of North Carolina, a gently rolling, green landscape between the Atlantic coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Anyone who comes here will see wide streets, lots of greenery, brick facades, campus areas and a manageable city center.
The trail back into the history of Winston-Salem surprisingly leads to Saxony. The roots of today’s city lie in the Salem settlement, which was founded in 1766 by members of the Moravian Community from Saxony. This Protestant reform movement placed particular emphasis on piety and community. In the historic Old Salem district, this past is still tangible today: simple houses, craft shops, gardens, churches, bakeries.
With the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Wake Forest University, museums, galleries, theaters and music offerings, the city offers a distinctive cultural life. Well-known sights include the art collection in the Reynolds House and the Reynolds Building, which is considered the architectural model for the Empire State Building.
Two of the most famous basketball players in the US professional league NBA once started their careers at Wake Forest University, on whose sports fields the German players now train. Tim Duncan, five-time champion with the San Antonio Spurs, studied here, as did Chris Paul, who was also born in Winston-Salem and later became one of the defining playmakers of his generation.
“Camel City” and crime
Winston-Salem was once a tobacco metropolis. The Camel cigarette brand based here became a symbol of the city. The nickname “Camel City” is still common today, even though the industry has lost its importance.