June 26, 2025; Commerce City, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of the second half soccer ball match between Ireland and USA at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Image The U.S. men’s national team plans to establish a World Cup training base at the Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine, California, this summer.
The United States Soccer Federation announced the decision on Tuesday.
Irvine Stadium is less than 50 miles from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where the USMNT will play two of its three group stage games. The other game is scheduled to be held in Seattle.
If the United States tops the group, the first knockout stage match will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Great Park features 24 soccer fields, including a 5,000-seat stadium that is home to USL Championship soccer team Orange County SC. The USMNT will train at the stadium with sessions closed to the public.
“We are excited to use Great Park as our training site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The facilities are outstanding and will provide the perfect training environment to prepare our team for success at the World Cup,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said in a statement.
Irvine Mayor Larry Agran said in a statement, “We are honored that the U.S. Men’s National Team has chosen to train at Great Park during the FIFA World Cup. This decision reflects the quality of the Great Park Championship soccer stadium and the professionalism of the staff that operates it. Irvine is proud to welcome players, coaches and supporters from around the world to our city for one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.”
According to The Athletic, US Soccer initially considered UC Irvine, but the university and FIFA were unable to reach an agreement on the proposal. US Soccer headed across town to the Great Park.
The USMNT has four friendlies scheduled ahead of the World Cup: March 28 vs. Belgium and March 31 vs. Portugal, both in Atlanta. Senegal vs. May 31 in Charlotte. And on June 6th there was a game against Germany in Chicago.
The United States opens World Cup Group D action against Paraguay in Inglewood on June 12 and then faces Australia in Seattle on June 19. The USMNT’s final group game on June 25 in Inglewood will be against the winner of the UEFA playoffs – Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey or Romania.
–Field level media
