Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images

USMNT Makes 2026 FIFA World Cup Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Mar 11, 2026 10:59 AM ET

The United States men’s national team will spend the 2026 World Cup on the West Coast, with two of its three group-stage matches scheduled at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area.

The Americans will open Group D play on June 12 against Paraguay before facing Australia on June 19 in Seattle. The USMNT will close its group stage on June 25, back at SoFi, in a matchup against an undisclosed European playoff winner.

With those logistics in mind and most early games taking place out West, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday that the squad will set camp in Irvine, California.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team will train at Great Park Sports Complex beginning June 7, using Championship Soccer Stadium as its preparation site.

Cristian Roldan #6 of the United States races to the ball.Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images

“We are delighted to have Great Park as our training site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said, per ESPN. “The facilities are simply outstanding and will provide the perfect training environment for our team to prepare to be successful at the World Cup.”

Great Park features a 5,500-seat stadium, home to Orange County SC. On top of that, according to the City of Irvine website, the Sports Complex includes 24 soccer fields and many additional athletic facilities.

The venue also sits roughly 45 miles from SoFi Stadium and less than 15 miles from John Wayne Airport, providing access for charter travel to Seattle and any other potential knockout-round destinations, if the USMNT advances into the final stages of the World Cup.

USMNT picks Irvine as World Cup training base

The United States will use Great Park in Irvine, California, as its official training base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.https://t.co/6ew55V8gnt
— ESPN Soccer (@ESPNsoccer) March 11, 2026

Although the USA's camp is now publicly known, training sessions during the tournament will be held behind closed doors. The team will stay at a hotel in Orange County and commute to Los Angeles and Seattle before matchdays.

If the U.S. wins Group D, it would remain on the West Coast for a round-of-32 match in Santa Clara. A second-place finish would send the team to Arlington, Texas.

The United States hosts Paraguay on June 12 at 9:00 p.m. ET in both nations' tournament opener.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: