Where is USMNT World Cup training camp? Mauricio Pochettino, USA squad convene ahead of 2026 FIFA tournament

The United States are set to play host at the greatest soccer competition in the world for the second time in history, and first since 1994.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, set to commence in mid-June, most of the matches will be held on home soil as the U.S. plays joint-host alongside Mexico and Canada.

The USMNT will be under a heavy spotlight at its home World Cup, even outside of matchdays.

With fans sure to be keeping a close watch on Mauricio Pochettino's side throughout the coming summer, The Sporting News has all the information on where the squad will reside between games.

MORE: Complete schedule, fixtures, times for all games at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Where is USMNT training camp for 2026 World Cup?

According to reports, the USMNT will convene at Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine, California for their World Cup home base.

The location was first reported by Sports Business Journal in early February, and later was listed in FIFA's official release of team training sites. It has yet to be confirmed by U.S. Soccer.

With so many West Coast fixtures at this summer's competition, Mauricio Pochettino and the rest of the U.S. Soccer staff have identified the 194-acre complex as their base camp.

The park is owned by the city of Irvine, featuring a soccer venue with 2,500 seats, as well as 24 training pitches, a locker rooms and other facilities. There are also basketball and volleyball courts, a tennis complex with 24 courts, and a baseball/softball complex as well as the soccer facilities.

MORE: Full USMNT fixture schedule for 2026 calendar year

Why is USMNT not training at Atlanta facility?

The U.S. could have chosen to reside at their brand new, facility in Atlanta, Georgia for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but have opted for another location.

This is due to the fact that the USMNT have been tabbed to play all three group stage games, and likely any knockout matches, on the West Coast throughout the competition.

Their three group stage matches will take place in Inglewood, CA and Seattle, WA, and if they finish first in their group, they will contest their potential knockout matches in Santa Clara, CA; Seattle and Inglewood before any potential semifinal.

USMNT schedule for 2026 World Cup

The United States will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, playing host to the famed competition for the second time following the 1994 tournament won by Brazil.

This time, they are joint-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico, as the tournament is played across nations for just the second time after the 2002 competition in South Korea and Japan.

MORE: Does Donald Trump have the right to move World Cup games?

USMNT in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

As hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States have been pre-drawn out of Pot 1 into Group D.

They have been drawn alongside Australia (FIFA #26) from Pot 2, Paraguay (FIFA #39) from Pot 3, and a to-be-determined UEFA playoff qualifier from Pot 4, from which either Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey, or Romania will join the group.

It's an extremely kind draw for the 2026 co-hosts, who secure two of the lower-ranked sides from Pot 2 and 3, and grab arguably the easiest of the four UEFA pathways from Pot 4. 

USMNT group stage fixtures

Group D standings

USMNT in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

While the group-stage slate for the USMNT was already solidified well in advance of the tournament, their potential knockout pathway remains up in the air until they secure mathematical qualification.

Should the U.S. qualify for the Round of 32, either by placing top two in their group or being one of the eight third-place qualifiers, they have five potential places they could end up in.

Here are all five possible locations the U.S. could wind up slotting into, as well as their path to the final from each one.

Path for USA in World Cup knockout — 1st place in Group D

Path for USA in World Cup knockout — 2nd place in Group D

Path for USA in World Cup knockout — 3rd place qualifier

As a member of Group D, the United States have three potential places in the knockout stage bracket they could be sorted into should they qualify as one of the eight third-place qualifiers.

Until all qualifiers are known, it is impossible to predict where or when they could potentially play should this come to pass. There are 495 mathematical combinations of third place qualifiers, with 330 of them involving a participant from Group D. All of these have been spelt out in advance, and every potential outcome can be found in Annex C (pg. 80) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup regulations.

Potential path 1 — Face Winner of Group E

There are 202 total combinations of third-place qualifiers that would see the U.S. play the winner from Group E, which is by far the most likely result.

Potential path 2 — Face Winner of Group I

There are 111 possible combinations of third-place qualifiers that would see the USMNT face the winner of Group I in the Round of 32.

Potential path 3 — Face Winner of Group K

This is by far the least likely scenario for if the U.S. were to qualify as a third place finisher, with only 17 of the possible 495 combinations of third-place qualifiers resulting in this placement.

* If USA qualifies via 1st place in Group D
** If USA qualifies via 2nd place in Group D