USMNT World Cup Prep
USMNT Begins Training Camp in Irvine for 2026 FIFA World Cup Preparations
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The U.S. Men's National Team has set up its World Cup home base at Irvine's Great Park, arriving on June 8 ahead of its Group D opener against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood Press Telegram. The team will play two of its three group-stage matches within 45 miles of the camp, making the location a strategic pick for head coach Mauricio Pochettino's side.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams and 104 total matches — the largest field in tournament history Daily News.
Great Park Becomes the USMNT's Home for the Summer
The City of Irvine and U.S. Soccer announced the partnership back in March 2026. The Great Park's Championship Soccer Stadium, which seats 5,500 fans, serves as the team's primary base OC Register. The stadium sits on a 1,300-acre sports complex built on the site of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.
Coach Pochettino praised the setup after arriving. "The environment and facilities are amazing," he said. "It's more than we expected... they prepared everything with love" Daily Breeze. Sporting Director Matt Crocker called the Great Park "simply outstanding." Captain Tim Ream added that the team feels settled: "Everything's been taken care of for us."
Road to Irvine: Wins, Losses, and a Roster Shakeup
The team's pre-tournament run was a mixed bag. The USMNT beat Senegal 3-2 in Charlotte on May 31 but then lost 2-1 to Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 6 in front of a sold-out crowd Press Enterprise. The loss extended the team's winless streak against European opponents to nine straight games.
Head coach Pochettino named his final 26-player roster on May 26. The cuts drew minor backlash after some players learned they were dropped via email rather than a personal call. Star forward Christian Pulisic, the team's top offensive threat, made the cut after ending a scoring drought in the Senegal friendly Daily News.
Fans Flood In, but Locals Face Disruption
Public excitement around the Irvine camp is enormous. The open community training session on June 8 drew 33,000 ticket requests for just 5,500 available seats, leaving thousands empty-handed OC Register. The setup mirrors the USMNT's 1994 World Cup residency program in Mission Viejo, just 11 miles away, when the U.S. also trained close to home as tournament host.
Not everyone is celebrating. The Great Park's regular tenant, Orange County SC of the USL, was temporarily displaced and forced to move its home matches and training to Santa Ana for the duration of the tournament Daily Breeze. The economic upside is significant, though — a Micronomics study projects the World Cup matches in LA County will generate up to $1.1 billion in total economic impact, with an estimated $50 million in new tax revenue.
Labor Tensions Cloud the SoFi Stadium Opener
A potential strike looms over the USMNT's June 12 opener. About 2,000 hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium authorized a strike just days before the match Press Telegram. The workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 11, say they are protesting the presence of ICE agents at the stadium. Workers stated they are "scared of coming to work" due to immigration enforcement at the venue.
The Department of Homeland Security says ICE's presence is strictly for anti-counterfeiting operations. Still, the dispute adds pressure to an already high-stakes event. California Governor Gavin Newsom also declined to include direct state funding for the World Cup in his revised budget, putting the cost of security and infrastructure on local host committees Press Enterprise.
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