The City of Irvine and U.S. Soccer have announced that the Great Park will serve as the official Team Base Camp training site for the U.S. Men’s National Team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The team will conduct its World Cup preparations at the Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium, a premier facility constructed in 2017 with a capacity of more than 5,000 spectators. The selection underscores the quality of Irvine’s athletic infrastructure and the City’s longstanding commitment to maintaining world class facilities that serve both elite athletes and the broader community.
Mayor Larry Agran expressed pride in the selection, citing the stadium’s caliber and the professionalism of its staff as key factors. He extended a welcome to players, coaches, and supporters from around the world who will visit Irvine during one of sport’s most celebrated global events.
U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker praised the facilities as outstanding, saying they would give the national team an ideal environment in which to prepare for the tournament.
Beyond the field, the Soccer Forward Foundation, U.S. Soccer’s legacy and social impact initiative, will team up with the City of Irvine and local organizations ahead of the tournament. During April, the initiative will deliver community based coaching development programs designed to provide local coaches with the training, tools, and resources needed to better support and inspire young people. The effort aims to extend the reach and impact of the World Cup into the surrounding community and build a stronger local soccer ecosystem.
Lex Chalat, Executive Director of the Soccer Forward Foundation, described the partnership as a meaningful opportunity to link the world’s largest sporting event with the communities that give the game its purpose. He emphasized that investing in local coaches is a way to ensure the energy surrounding the World Cup translates into lasting opportunity for the next generation of players.
Founded in 1913, the U.S. Men’s National Team has qualified for 11 FIFA World Cups. The 2026 tournament marks the first time the team will compete on home soil in more than 30 years. Co hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the event will be the most expansive World Cup in history, with 48 teams competing across 104 matches.
Councilmember and Great Park Board Chair William Go reflected on the significance of the moment, tracing the park’s journey from its origins as Marine Corps Air Station El Toro to its current status as a premier destination for athletes and families. He called the team’s selection of the Great Park a milestone for the entire Irvine community.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19. The U.S. Men’s National Team opens play against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium, continuing a run of momentum that saw the team advance to the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Training sessions at the Great Park will be closed to the public. Details about a planned welcome event in April and a potential community day are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.