With the World Cup opener only days away, the U.S. soccer team set up their base in Irvine on Monday. Fans eager to see them in action lined up at Orange County Great Park.
The team announced the park would serve as their home base, prompting a raffle for one-time training passes. A staggering 32,000 fans applied, with 5,500 winning the chance to attend a public training session. On a warm Monday morning, attendees watched a brief but crucial 45-minute practice. Notably, this session marked the first full participation of injured center back Chris Richards, recovering from ankle ligament tears sustained in May with Crystal Palace.
The practice unfolded at Championship Soccer Stadium, situated about 50 miles from their Friday game venue against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the facilities, expressing gratitude for the environment.
The environment and facilities are more than we expect. We are so grateful.
The stadium, managed by the city and temporarily allocated from the Orange County Soccer Club, became the training ground for the national team. Dan Rutstein, president of the local club, embraced the opportunity:
How can you not be excited about the host nation training in your facility?
The vast Great Park is a 500-acre expanse on the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, closed in 1999. The park offers various sports facilities, including 25 soccer fields. Mayor Larry Agran highlighted the park’s significance:
The idea was that this would be a quality facility, a great park that we hope will rival other great parks across the country.
Efforts to secure a World Cup team for the park began five years ago. The park made the cut as a host option in 2024. Sam Zapatka, operations manager of the USMNT, scouted numerous facilities nationwide before selecting the Great Park in March.
On Monday, as players emerged from upgraded locker rooms, they were greeted by the enthusiastic support of 5,500 fans. Team captain Tim Ream expressed his surprise at the turnout:
I think we’ve all been, I wouldn’t say overwhelmed, but possibly surprised by the excitement and the buzz.
Ream conveyed the team’s appreciation for the stadium and support:
The support, really, from all the kids out there is amazing. You want to feel like you have a good home base, right?
The event demonstrated the strong community backing as the team settled into their temporary Irvine home.