When the World Cup Comes to Your Neighborhood: The USMNT Base Camp at Irvine's Great Park
The U.S. Men's National Team has chosen Irvine's Great Park as its official base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For a few weeks this summer, the biggest sporting event on the planet is essentially headquartered in the same neighborhood where families are touring open houses and putting in offers. If you already live near the Great Park — or you've been quietly watching it — that's a bigger moment than it first sounds.
I've lived in Irvine for almost twenty years, and I've watched the Great Park go from an empty former Marine air base to one of the most talked-about addresses in Orange County. As a former pro athlete, I'll admit I had a soft spot for this story the second it broke. Having the U.S. national team set up camp here is the kind of thing that quietly resets how people see a neighborhood.
Here's what's actually happening, what you can go see, and what it means if you own or want to own near the park.
What's actually happening at the Great Park
U.S. Soccer announced earlier this spring that the men's national team will train at the Great Park Sports Complex — the 1,300-acre athletic hub on Irvine's east side — and stay nearby at the Marriott at Irvine Spectrum during the tournament. The team will practice at the Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium, the 5,000-plus-seat venue that's been hosting pro and college soccer here since 2017.
U.S. Soccer's sporting director called the facilities "simply outstanding," and that's not just politeness. World-class teams are particular about where they train, and Irvine beat out a long list of options. The location makes sense: it's a straight shot to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, where the U.S. plays two of its group-stage matches.
Can I watch the team practice?
Yes — once. The City of Irvine and U.S. Soccer are hosting a public Community Training Session at the Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium on Monday, June 8, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. It's the only chance for the public to watch the team train at the Great Park during the entire World Cup, and it includes remarks from city officials and team representatives.
Free tickets were handed out through a lottery that ran in mid-to-late May, so if you didn't enter, the stadium seats are spoken for. But here's the part a lot of people miss: right after the practice, there's a "Pitchside Kickoff" festival outside the stadium that's open to everyone — booths, music, food, raffles, and giveaways. If you want to soak up the energy without a ticket, that's your move. Bring the kids.
When does the U.S. actually play?
The 2026 World Cup runs June 11 through July 19 across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — 48 teams and 104 matches, the largest tournament in the event's history. The U.S. landed in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye. The team opens against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium, plays Australia on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle, and closes the group stage back at SoFi against Türkiye. Two of three group games inside a short drive of home is a rare thing for an Orange County sports fan.
What this means if you own near the Great Park
I try to stay grounded when people ask whether a single event "moves prices." One festival weekend doesn't. But a World Cup base camp isn't really a weekend — it's a stamp of arrival. It tells the rest of the country that the Great Park's athletic infrastructure is genuinely elite, and that the surrounding villages — from the newer Great Park neighborhoods to Portola Springs up the hill — sit next to amenities most suburbs will never have.
Buyers notice that. When I sit with families relocating from out of state, the Great Park's parks, sports fields, and trails come up constantly, and "the place the U.S. team trained" is now part of that pitch. Demand follows lifestyle, and this is a lifestyle story with a global audience.
What it means if you're buying
Irvine is still a tight market — inventory has been hovering near a month and a half of supply, and well-priced homes near the Great Park don't sit. If the World Cup spotlight nudges even a few more buyers toward this corner of the city, competition for the good listings gets sharper, not softer. The practical takeaway: if the Great Park is on your list, get your financing buttoned up and your agent ready now, before the summer attention peaks.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the USMNT choose Irvine's Great Park? U.S. Soccer selected the Great Park Sports Complex for its top-tier training facilities and its central location relative to the team's group-stage venues, especially SoFi Stadium. The team is staying at the Marriott at Irvine Spectrum during the tournament.
Can the public watch the U.S. team train at the Great Park?
There's one public Community Training Session on Monday, June 8, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium. Stadium tickets were distributed by lottery in May, but the "Pitchside Kickoff" festival outside the stadium afterward is open to everyone, no ticket required.
When does the U.S. play in the 2026 World Cup?
The U.S. opens against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium, plays Australia on June 19 in Seattle, and finishes the group stage against Türkiye back at SoFi. The full tournament runs June 11 through July 19.
Does a World Cup base camp actually affect home values near the Great Park?
Not overnight, and not because of one event. What it does is reinforce the Great Park's reputation as a destination with elite amenities, which is exactly the kind of long-term lifestyle draw that supports demand in the surrounding villages.
Thinking about buying or selling near the Great Park?
This is a fun summer to be here, and a smart one to plan ahead. I've helped families all over Irvine find the right village for how they actually live — reach out anytime and let's talk through it, no pressure.