U.S. Soccer Team’s New Base at Irvine’s Great Park Draws Enthusiastic Crowd

The U.S. soccer team settled into its temporary base in Irvine on Monday, with numerous Southern California residents eager to watch their practice session. The team chose Orange County Great Park as its base during the group stage of the World Cup. To witness the only public workout, the City of Irvine held a draw, with 32,000 applying and 5,500 granted entry. The practice was remarkable as it marked center back Chris Richards’ full involvement after recovering from torn ligaments in his ankle while playing for Crystal Palace.

This first practice at Championship Soccer Stadium, 50 miles from SoFi Stadium, served as preparation for the World Cup game against Paraguay on Friday. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino commented positively on the venue, saying, “The environment and facilities are more than we expect. We are so grateful.” The city owns and manages the stadium, leasing it to the Orange County Soccer Club, but temporarily shifted the club to accommodate the national team.

“How can you not be excited about the host nation training in your facility?” said Dan Rutstein, president of business operations for the Orange County club. “We’re proud to be associated with the U.S. national team.”

Orange County Great Park, a 500-acre area, is on the site of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The base closed in 1999, and, in 2001, voters agreed to transform it into a public park. It features five sand volleyball courts, four basketball courts, 25 tennis courts, 12 softball and baseball fields, an ice arena, and 25 soccer fields, including a newly-installed FIFA-standard field in the 5,500-seat stadium.

Irvine mayor Larry Agran expressed pride in the park, stating, “The idea was to create a quality facility, a great park to rival San Diego’s Balboa Park and others across the country.” Hosting a World Cup team required years of preparation. The city began exploring the option five years ago and made the cut in 2024 for potential training bases. After evaluating various sites, the U.S. team chose Irvine’s Great Park for its favorable facilities.

When players emerged from the locker room, expanded and upgraded by FIFA, they were met with enthusiastic cheers and “USA! USA!” chants. Notable attendees included midfielder Weston McKennie and coach Mauricio Pochettino, who greeted fans warmly. The response from supporters surprised team captain Tim Ream. “Pulling up here with 5,500 fans ready to watch a training session is incredible,” Ream said. The presence of a passionate crowd at the stadium energized the team, reinforcing their sense of a strong home base.