Postcards from the World Cup: I found Cup fever in this country! In Irvine!
But on Monday morning, I found true World Cup enthusiasm. To do it, I had to fly to Orange County, rent a car and drive to a place that didn't exist a decade ago. The development of Great Park in Irvine, the former site of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, was approved almost a quarter-century ago but didn't really take shape until about 2017.
Now it is a massive 500-acre maze of housing developments and sports complexes, including a 5,000-seat soccer stadium and surrounding fields.
That's where the U.S. men's national team is holding base camp for the next three weeks. Its first training session was Monday morning, and it was open to the public: 5,500 free tickets were made available and 32,000 individuals applied for them in a lottery. The arriving crowd choked the newly paved streets and roundabouts of Great Park, thrilled to be able to get close to the World Cup without having to pay four figures.
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The team is commuting to Great Park from a swanky hotel 14 miles west, right on the Pacific Ocean. Ironically, it's next to where the 1994 U.S. team set up camp at the Dana Point Resort, the launching point for a summer of soccer.
On Monday, fans sat in the hot sun for a couple of hours to watch the team do drills. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino addressed the crowd, saying he hoped the team would make them proud. The crowd wore team jerseys, did the wave and chanted "U-S-A!" Many waved Mexican flags and cheered for players with Mexican ties such as Ricardo Pepi.
"Pulling up here with 5,500 fans ready to watch a training session is incredible," said team captain Tim Ream. "Seeing all the kids out there is amazing.
"Everything's been taken care of for us. We're very spoiled that way as players; that allows us to focus on what we do. We're looking forward to being here over the next three weeks."
The crowds were gone on Tuesday. The practice was closed to the public. The serious countdown to the World Cup is underway.
And maybe this World Cup fever will start to spread.
June 9, 2026
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Ann Killion
Sports Columnist
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