IRVINE, Calif. — Great Park, where the U.S. men’s national team has established its World Cup base camp, is the former site of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, which was a military training hub for pilots, aircrews and ground personnel during World War II.
Since then, the more than 1,300-acre property has been transformed into a sprawling public sports and recreation complex. In 2017, the city opened Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium, where the Americans will be training every day for the next several weeks.
Monday, the team was welcomed by 5,500 devoted fans who flocked to the stadium for practice. All World Cup teams are required to conduct one public event, and U.S. Soccer said it received 32,000 registration applicants but had to cap the attendance.
It was a festive start to the week ahead of the Americans’ World Cup opener vs. Paraguay on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium (9 p.m. ET on FOX) located a bit more than 40 miles from this temporary home.
“Once a place where Americans trained to defend our nation, this is now a place where Americans train to represent the United States of America,” Larry Agran, the mayor of Irvine, told the buzzing crowd anxious to see their favorite players.
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino also addressed supporters and gave somewhat of a motivational pregame speech.
USA manager Mauricio Pochettino gave a welcome speech of sorts. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“The most important thing is you feel proud about your team,” Pochettino said while holding a microphone and pacing the field. “One thing is for sure: we are going to give everything to create good memories with you, for you to feel proud of your team.”
The moment this country has been waiting for is finally here as the largest World Cup in history – a 48-team tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico – begins later this week. Half of the USA’s squad played in the World Cup four years ago in Qatar, so they are familiar with soccer’s grandest stage.
But as captain Tim Ream told a room full of reporters before Monday’s training, this is new territory for everybody.
“It’s not our first rodeo, but it’s the first one on home soil, so it kind of is our first rodeo in a way,” Ream explained. “It’s exciting. I’m old enough to remember bits and pieces from 1994 [World Cup]. I’ve tried to inform guys and convey the message within the media that it’s a once-in-a-career alternative. With that comes extra expectation and extra strain, however on the identical time, it’s a must to get pleasure from it.
“And for me, it’s about opening your eyes and taking every thing in as a result of that is utterly totally different from something that any of us gamers have skilled. So take it in, get pleasure from it, embrace every thing that it’s, as a result of it’s so distinctive, so particular, and it isn’t one thing that we’ll ever get to do once more.”
Final week, whereas the crew was at U.S. Soccer’s new Nationwide Coaching Middle exterior of Atlanta, a number of veterans spoke in regards to the accountability they really feel to assist first-timers savor each minute of the match.
Star ahead Christian Pulisic has mentioned he was extraordinarily centered in the course of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and admits he wasn’t all the time the simplest individual to be round in the course of the match. Goalkeeper Matt Turner mentioned he didn’t do a superb job of “soaking all of it in.”
“Like taking a video of one thing that was happening [and instead] simply considering, ‘Oh, that’s good,’ and letting the second go by,” mentioned Turner, who began each match 4 years in the past. “I want I documented extra issues from Qatar.”
USA’s Chris Richards partaking with the followers at observe. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Occasions through Getty Photos)
From the outset, the crew seems to be putting a stability between pleasure and depth. When gamers arrived at their resort in Atlanta for the pre-tournament camp — and once more upon reaching their resort in Southern California — followers have been there to cheer them on. Turner made positive to have his telephone out and take within the second because it unfolded.
Defender Mark McKenzie, who’s enjoying in his first World Cup, has been strolling round with a video digicam to seize the expertise. It’s not the movie digicam he wished to carry – he forgot it again in France the place he performs for Ligue 1 membership Toulouse – however has been utilizing one other one to take a bunch of photographs and movies each day.
“I feel all these are essential moments that you simply’ll look again on in 10, 15, 20 years and with the ability to share these moments with my son,” mentioned McKenzie, who plans to make some sort of collage after the summer time is over. “I wished to ensure that I didn’t simply doc it for myself, however for everyone. I wished one thing memorable, one thing particular.
“Clearly, the job is to deal with the work on the pitch, however exterior the traces, having fun with it as nicely and ensuring we’re capturing it.”
