The U.S. men’s national team will use the Great Park Sports Complex as its training base this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 19.
Irvine councilmember and Great Park Board Chair William Go confirmed that the U.S. team will train at the Great Park for the duration of the tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The team will arrive in Irvine after its pre-World Cup friendly against Germany in Chicago on June 6, and will open World Cup play against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on June 12, according to ESPN.
“We had a couple other countries come visit us as well,” Go said. “The U.S. Soccer Federation toured all the facilities they were considering and [the Great Park] was the most ideal considering our awesome venue and that we spent quite a bit of money building it, and the proximity to the other stadiums that they’re playing so they don’t have to travel as much. At the end of the day, [the U.S. team] took this opportunity and selected us, and we are more than happy to host them.”
Despite not currently having any of the national team’s training open to the public at Great Park, the U.S. team’s presence in Irvine is a meaningful source of community pride and brings global attention to the city, according to head girls soccer coach Samantha Ezratty.
“The fact that the World Cup is happening here is super exciting,” Ezratty said. “Even if you’re not going to the games, it brings a sense of culture, celebration and fandom together. What’s cool about the national team is that it lets people dream about something that they see in themselves. I think there were very pivotal moments in my childhood of watching a World Cup team or an Olympics team. It’s so cool that kids in Irvine and Orange County are going to have the opportunity to not only see that, but to see it up close.”
Next steps in preparation for the team’s arrival include maintaining existing facilities and fields as well as tightening security to ensure the safety of the team and the Irvine community, according to Go. Go also urged Irvine residents to stay tuned for an announcement from the city on how Great Park facilities will be used for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
