U.S. Soccer Team Prepares for World Cup at Irvine Base

As the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team gears up for its World Cup opener, the players settled into their temporary base in Irvine, California on Monday. Thousands of eager fans from Southern California gathered to watch their practice session.

After confirming Orange County Great Park as their base for at least the group stage, the City of Irvine organized a raffle for fans to attend the team’s only public workout. An impressive 32,000 applications were submitted, and 5,500 fans were selected to attend the 45-minute session. This practice marked the full return of center-back Chris Richards, who had been sidelined due to ankle injuries sustained while playing for Crystal Palace.

The practice at Championship Soccer Stadium, about 50 miles from SoFi Stadium, holds significance for its proximity to where the team will face Paraguay on Friday. U.S. Coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the venue, noting its quality and atmosphere.

Championship Soccer Stadium is under the management of the City of Irvine and is usually home to the Orange County Soccer Club from the USL Championship. The club temporarily vacated to accommodate the national team. Dan Rutstein, president of business operations for the club, expressed excitement about hosting the U.S. team, welcoming the opportunity to support their national efforts.

The Great Park spans 500 acres and occupies the site of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. After closing in 1999, the area was transformed into a public space with numerous sports facilities, including 25 soccer fields. The hope was to create a park as esteemed as San Diego’s Balboa Park, as shared by Irvine Mayor Larry Agran.

Efforts to attract a World Cup training base began five years ago, eventually placing the Great Park on a shortlist of site options for tournament qualifiers in 2024. During this time, several national teams assessed the facilities, with the U.S. team’s manager, Sam Zapatka, conducting extensive evaluations from Seattle to San Diego. Impressed with the Irvine site, he ceased further searches and confirmed Irvine as the team’s base in March.

On the day of the practice, players received a warm welcome with chants of “USA! USA!” echoing as they exited the refurbished locker rooms. Team captain Tim Ream highlighted the enthusiasm and support from the fans as a motivational factor, appreciating the stadium’s quality and the connection it provided as a home base during the tournament.