USMNT to Train at Irvine's Great Park for 2026 World Cup

U.S. Soccer announces national team will prepare for tournament at state-of-the-art facility in Southern California

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The U.S. men's national soccer team will train at the Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine, California during the 2026 World Cup. The USMNT initially planned to use facilities at the nearby University of California, Irvine, but the university was unable to reach an agreement with FIFA. The Great Park venue includes 24 soccer fields and a 5,000-capacity stadium where the team will hold closed-door practice sessions under manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Why it matters

With two of the USMNT's three group stage matches taking place in the Los Angeles area, the Irvine training base provides a convenient location for the team to prepare while avoiding the bustle of the big city. This setup mirrors strategies used by other national teams, who often opt for more remote training facilities during major tournaments.

The details

The Great Park Sports Complex was one of the training facility options provided by FIFA to teams participating in the 2026 World Cup. The venue features 24 soccer fields and a 5,000-seat stadium that will serve as the USMNT's training ground, with Pochettino's sessions closed to the public. The U.S. team will be based at a hotel in Orange County and commute to Los Angeles and Seattle for their group stage matches.

  • The USMNT's World Cup campaign begins on June 12 against Paraguay.
  • The team will then face Australia on June 19 in Seattle.
  • The U.S. will wrap up group play on June 25 against a yet-to-be-determined opponent from the UEFA qualifying playoff.

The players

Mauricio Pochettino

The manager who will lead the USMNT's training and preparation for the 2026 World Cup.

Bob Bradley

The former U.S. national team coach who emphasized the importance of finding a training facility that provided privacy and team bonding during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

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What they’re saying

“We wanted a training facility that gave us the ability to work comfortably and concentrate on building our team and handling everything that goes into World Cup success.”

— Bob Bradley, Former U.S. national team coach (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The USMNT's final group stage opponent will be determined by a UEFA qualifying playoff later this month. If the U.S. wins its group, it will remain on the West Coast and play in the round of 32 in Santa Clara, California. If it finishes second, it will head to Arlington, Texas.

The takeaway

The USMNT's decision to train at the state-of-the-art Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine reflects a strategic approach to World Cup preparation, prioritizing privacy, team bonding, and proximity to their group stage matches in the Los Angeles area. This setup mirrors tactics used by other national teams seeking to minimize distractions and maximize focus during major tournaments.