IRVINE, Calif. — As U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino observed the atmosphere at Championship Soccer Stadium in the Great Park Sports Complex, he couldn’t help but appreciate the excellent setup his team had access to.
On that particular day, more than 5,500 fans attended the USMNT’s only open training session during the World Cup, a requirement set by FIFA for all participating teams. However, beyond the crowd turnout, Pochettino expressed his admiration for the superb facilities available to the team.
“It’s incredible,” he remarked to reporters. “We owe a big thank you to our organization and the soccer community. The environment and facilities we have here are beyond what we expected.”
For the players, the World Cup represents various things: the realization of lifelong aspirations and the apex of many careers. Practically, it also entails an extended trip, with the U.S. team potentially spending over 60 days together if all goes well. Approximately half of that time will be spent at their Southern California base camp.
“Having a solid home base is essential. It allows us to focus on what we need, whether it’s in the gym or on the field,” said U.S. defender Tim Ream. “Everything has been arranged for us, and we feel quite spoiled in that sense.”
The USMNT’s Home Away From Home
The team’s temporary sanctuary features two primary locations: the hotel along the Southern California coastline and the practice facility at Great Park. The hotel is designed to be a refuge, where players can escape the pressures of the World Cup and prioritize recovery with dedicated spaces for massages and deep tissue treatments.
“The atmosphere is perfect for the players, providing ample outdoor space to relax and unwind,” noted Sam Zapatka, the U.S. manager of operations.
“We offer a coffee service that the players enjoy in the mornings and afternoons, but it’s primarily a place for them to decompress. We have quality recovery units and excellent working spaces for our coaching, performance, and communications teams, all flooded with natural light. It’s important for players to feel comfortable and truly disconnect from football.”
Despite its tranquil environment, the hotel turns lively during the NBA Finals, as seen in a viral video following a thrilling Game 4 victory for the New York Knicks. In contrast, the practice facility is strictly business-oriented.
“That’s where the players compete and focus intensely,” Zapatka emphasized.
The facility includes four locker rooms for players, coaches, and staff, one of which serves as a meeting space, along with a medical treatment room designed by Orange County. Its outdoor setting allows pleasant breezes to flow through, and there are 24 fields available for training.
Moreover, there’s a strong emphasis on team unity in their World Cup quest. A large photo of the entire team and staff at the entrance to the field, highlighted with the motto “The Best of U.S.,” conveys this spirit. Above all, the setup is tailored to simplify the players’ experience.
“Maintaining a smooth flow is crucial for the players, allowing them to minimize distractions,” Zapatka explained. “When they enter, they can easily transition from the locker room to the field and then to the gym, which leads directly back outside.”
After training sessions, players partake in a grounding activity, where they remove their shoes and socks to walk barefoot on the grass. “This was something we noticed and appreciated during our time in Qatar; the calmness of that area has been beneficial for the players,” Zapatka shared. “We try to maximize our time at Great Park.”
Transitioning to Great Park
In a World Cup, the choice of hotel and training facility typically hinges on the team manager’s preferences. For example, Bruce Arena selected a central location in Hamburg in 2006, while Jurgen Klinsmann preferred the bustling atmosphere of Sao Paulo in 2014. Bob Bradley opted for a more secluded spot, the Irene Country Lodge outside Johannesburg for the 2010 World Cup.
This time, the process had its share of complications. Zapatka began searching for a combined hotel and training site three years ago, during Gregg Berhalter’s tenure as manager.
FIFA provided a brochure listing available hotel/training combinations, with requests prioritized based on FIFA rankings and potential game schedules. When it was confirmed that the U.S. team would play two matches at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area, specific criteria for the home base emerged.
“We wanted to avoid Los Angeles due to the congestion and traffic,” Zapatka explained. “We aimed for a location that was slightly removed yet still convenient for driving to our first game, without needing a charter.”
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Initially, the U.S. Soccer Federation selected a combination of the hotel in Laguna Niguel and a training facility at UC Irvine. However, UC Irvine withdrew due to disagreements over FIFA’s requirements, prompting a shift in plans.
“Due to FIFA’s contractual rights for both the hotel and training venue, there were terms that UC Irvine and FIFA couldn’t reconcile,” Zapatka explained. “We redirected to Great Park, still within a suitable driving distance to SoFi, and as soon as I saw it, I knew it was the right choice. We modified our plans within a day.”
“When I arrived, local community services manager Steven Stewart greeted me with, ‘Welcome to your new home.’ That really sealed the deal. The facilities were exceptional, particularly suited for soccer—something we lacked at UC Irvine.”
There were also essential branding opportunities, such as displaying the U.S. Soccer logo on a large balloon at the site.
During this transition, the U.S. team underwent a managerial change, transitioning from Berhalter to Pochettino. Despite Pochettino’s initial approval for UC Irvine, the shift to Great Park was left to assistant Jesus Perez to endorse, which he did.
The Challenges Ahead
In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, logistics were simpler. According to Zapatka, there was a singular banquet manager, hotel room coordinator, and venue manager overseeing the team’s entire stay. This time, the team will be traveling more, starting with their inaugural match against Australia in Seattle on Friday. Despite the complications of necessitating travel, they are prepared with their training site and hotel locations finalized, set to practice at the University of Washington.
“We’ll return to our Irvine base camp once we’ve concluded our match,” Zapatka stated. “We’ll take along some equipment, but most will remain here in [Irvine].”
The team will later return to Irvine for their final group stage game against Türkiye before departing from their newly established residence.
According to FIFA regulations, each squad can use only one base camp during the group stage. Once the knockout rounds commence, teams must switch venues. For the USMNT, depending on their group performance, they might need to leave as early as June 29 or as late as July 1. While they will have to abandon the comprehensive gym setup at Great Park, their recovery equipment will accompany them.
This will necessitate Zapatka recreating the environment of Great Park and the surrounding hotel to the best of his abilities at their new location. Fortunately, he and assistant Kristen Washburn are well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
“We’ve scouted every potential hotel and training site that we could use,” he mentioned. “It’s probably similar to the Gold Cup based on my experiences—constantly moving from city to city. The goal is simple: win and progress.”
The hope is that the U.S. team will achieve great things in this World Cup.