Pochettino vows 'good memories' as 5,500 fans greet USA at World Cup base camp

The U.S. men’s national team began their home World Cup preparations in festive fashion at Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, California on Monday, training in front of 5,500 supporters selected from more than 32,000 registration applicants for the mandatory public session.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino took a microphone and addressed the crowd directly, framing the tournament in terms of collective pride. “The most important thing is you feel proud about your team,” he said, 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 setting carried its own symbolism. Great Park, a sprawling 1,300-acre public sports and recreation complex in Irvine, occupies the former site of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro — a World War II training hub for pilots, aircrews and ground personnel. Irvine mayor Larry Agran acknowledged the parallel in his welcome address. “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,” he told the crowd.

Captain Tim Ream, speaking to reporters before training, acknowledged the unique weight of hosting the tournament on home soil. Half of the current squad featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but Ream was clear that this experience is something altogether different.

“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 said. “It’s exciting. I’m old enough to remember bits and pieces from 1994. I’ve tried to tell guys that it’s a once-in-a-career opportunity. With that comes more expectation and more pressure, but at the same time, you have to enjoy it.”

Reem urged his teammates to absorb every moment. “Take it in, enjoy it, embrace everything that it is, because it is so unique, so special, and it’s not something that we’ll ever get to do again.”

The Americans face Paraguay on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium in their opening match of the 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico — the largest World Cup in history.