The Fairfax Girl Team 
Alexandria’s summer of World Cup soccer has officially turned into an international friendship. After hosting Croatia’s national soccer team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the City of Alexandria has approved a friendship city agreement with Osijek, Croatia. The new partnership is designed to strengthen ties between the two cities and explore opportunities for future collaboration. And the timing lines up with another Croatia-focused event coming to Alexandria this month. Read on for everything to know about Alexandria’s new friendship city agreement with Osijek, Croatia, and what it could mean for the community.
Croatia in Alexandria
On October 13th, the Alexandria City Council unanimously approved a resolution establishing a one-year friendship city relationship with Osijek, Croatia. The agreement follows a summer of soccer excitement in Alexandria, beginning with the Croatian men’s national team using the city as its home base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Croatia’s national team chose Alexandria from more than 60 potential locations across North America, with the city’s location, access to transportation, training facilities, + accommodations helping make it a fit. The team stayed in Alexandria and trained at Episcopal High School during the tournament.
Osijek is located in eastern Croatia along the Drava River and is one of the country’s major cities. The area is known for its historic architecture, cultural attractions, + active sports scene (does this sound familiar?). The city is also home to NK Osijek, a professional soccer club that competes in Croatia’s top domestic league.
Now, the warm welcome has grown into an official friendship city agreement. A friendship city agreement is a formal way for communities in different countries to establish a relationship and explore opportunities to work together. Alexandria’s new agreement with Osijek will begin as a one-year trial partnership, rather than a permanent arrangement. The proposal was initially introduced at the September 9th, 2026, Alexandria City Council meeting.
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According to The Alexandria Brief, the City Council resolution authorizes City Manager James Parajon to enter into a non-binding agreement with Osijek. The resolution also directs the city manager to establish a task force that will oversee the developing relationship and provide updates to City Council throughout the trial period. For Alexandria residents, the agreement essentially creates a framework for the two cities to explore future partnerships. Potential areas could include cultural exchanges, sports programming, education, tourism, + other community-focused initiatives, although specific programs have not yet been announced.
A Croatian Sports Conference Is Coming to Alexandria
The friendship city agreement was approved just days before another Croatia-focused event arrives in Alexandria. On October 19th, the Croatian Embassy is hosting an all-day sports conference at The Satire, the Alexandria hotel that was the Croatian team’s home base during the World Cup. The event will bring together people connected to Croatian sports + international partnerships, including representatives from Osijek’s soccer community. Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins is also scheduled to participate in a panel titled World Cup 2026: Alexandria & Osijek, highlighting the connection between the two cities and the role the tournament played in bringing them together.
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For now, the friendship city agreement is still in its early stages. The City of Alexandria is expected to establish a task force to help guide the relationship, with updates provided to City Council throughout the one-year trial. No specific long-term programs have been announced yet, but the agreement gives both communities a way to stay connected and explore future opportunities together.
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