The U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) has officially chosen a municipal facility in Irvine, California, as their training base for this summer's World Cup. With the tournament’s group-stage matches set to be played on the West Coast, the 26-man squad, led by head coach Mauricio Pochettino, will begin training on June 7 at Championship Soccer Stadium, part of the Great Park Sports Complex in Orange County. This move was announced by the city on Tuesday.
A Strategic Location for U.S. Team Preparations
The team will commence their World Cup journey on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, located about 45 miles from the training facility in Irvine. Following the match, the U.S. team will return to Irvine for continued practice sessions ahead of their second Group D game against Australia on June 19 in Seattle. The group-stage finale will also be played at SoFi Stadium on June 25, where they’ll face a playoff team that will be determined later this month. The selection of Irvine as the training base comes after the U.S. Soccer Federation shifted from their initial plan to use Crawford Field at UC Irvine, although the exact reasons for this change were not immediately made clear.
World-Class Facilities in Irvine’s Great Park
The Great Park Sports Complex, which opened in 2017, offers state-of-the-art training facilities that will provide the ideal environment for the U.S. team’s preparation. According to Matt Crocker, the U.S. Soccer Federation's sporting director, "The facilities are simply outstanding and will provide the perfect training environment for our team to prepare to be successful at the World Cup." The complex features a 5,000-seat stadium and 24 soccer fields, which the U.S. team will utilize during their camp. In addition to the soccer fields, the park houses numerous other athletic amenities, including an ice arena where the Anaheim Ducks practice. For travel to other World Cup cities, the U.S. team has the option of using the nearby John Wayne Airport.
The Significance of the Training Base and Local Community Engagement
The USMNT’s base camp announcement for the 2026 World Cup has been celebrated not only by soccer fans but by the local community in Irvine. William Go, Chair of the Great Park Board, expressed the pride of the city in hosting the team, stating, “Hosting the U.S. men’s national team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a once-in-a-generation moment for the park and a proud milestone for our entire community.” Additionally, the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Soccer Forward Foundation, focused on legacy and social impact, will offer a community coaching development program this spring, further strengthening the team’s connection to the local area.
Though training sessions will be closed to the public, FIFA mandates that teams hold at least one limited community event during their stay. Details for the U.S. team’s event have yet to be finalized, but fans can expect a unique opportunity to engage with the players in some capacity during their training camp.
The U.S. team’s decision to base themselves in Irvine aligns with the growing anticipation for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
