Pochettino Rallies 5,500 Fans in Irvine as US Weighs 2026 World Cup Expectations
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 11
Pochettino Rallies 5,500 Fans in Irvine as US Weighs 2026 World Cup Expectations
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 11
Summary
5,500 fans attended the US men’s team open training in Irvine, where Mauricio Pochettino thanked supporters and turned early microphone glitches into jokes before leading a successful “USA” chant.
30,000-plus people had applied for tickets, underscoring local enthusiasm as the coach used the event to strengthen ties between a co-host nation and a team still trying to win broader public belief.
15 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw in Pochettino’s 22 months have left the US difficult to judge—capable of strong stretches but still inconsistent against the higher-level opponents it may face deep in the tournament.
A run beyond the 2002 quarter-finals is seen as a potential breakthrough for American soccer, with hopes it could lift the sport’s domestic profile, commercial pull and the players’ status as household names.
That ambition is complicated by wider unease around what US success at a home World Cup could symbolize politically, a debate Pochettino and his players have largely avoided in public.
With record ticket prices, will the World Cup's projected $80 billion boom come at the cost of alienating its American fanbase?
Can a $6M coach and a 'Golden Generation' overcome a notoriously weak defense to make a deep World Cup run on home soil?
Is America’s 'pay-to-play' youth system the biggest obstacle preventing its talented team from achieving true World Cup glory?
USMNT’s 2026 World Cup: Record Fan Demand, Ticket Price Barriers, and the Quest for a Lasting Legacy
Overview
On June 8, 2026, the U.S. men's national team energized their World Cup campaign by holding an open training session at Great Park in Irvine, California. The event drew 5,500 enthusiastic fans, selected from over 32,000 lottery entries, creating a vibrant and electrified atmosphere. Coach Mauricio Pochettino personally engaged with supporters and led a powerful 'U-S-A' chant, showcasing the team's growing home support. This rally not only set a positive tone for the USMNT but also highlighted the broad excitement and unity among fans as the team prepared for the upcoming tournament.