Thousands of supporters converged on the expansive green of the Great Park in Irvine on a bright Saturday morning, eager to catch a glimpse of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team as it fine‑tuned for the 2026 World Cup.
A public rehearsal
The gathering was made possible by a lottery that handed free entry to roughly six thousand fans selected from more than thirty thousand applicants, turning the practice into a mini‑festival of chants, waving U.S. flags and homemade signs.
At the heart of the session, stars such as Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson displayed crisp ball work, their dazzling moves drawing cheers each time the ball kissed the net.
When the final whistle blew, several members of the squad drifted to the sidelines, signing autographs and snapping selfies, a moment that backup goalkeeper Matt Freese later described as a “unique opportunity” the team does not take for granted.
The training site will remain active over the coming weeks, serving as a base for the squad before they head to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, where they are slated to face Paraguay on Friday, Australia on June 19 and Turkey on June 25 in the group stage.