Subdued Day at National Team Training Camp

IRVINE, Calif. — Tuesday marked a quieter atmosphere at the U.S. men’s national team training camp as preparations ramped up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

However, for three players on the team, it was a deeply meaningful occasion.

They represented California.

The only California-born athletes on the 26-man roster include defenseman Max Aksten, midfielder Cristian Roldan, and forward Haji Wright, hailing from Fresno, Pico Rivera, and Los Angeles, respectively.

Their personal journeys resonate deeply, particularly with the tournament primarily taking place in the U.S., especially in Los Angeles.

“As a kid, you dream about this type of moment,” Roldan mentioned to the California Post regarding his return home for the World Cup. “I’m just trying to soak it all in. It means everything to me.”

For Roldan, this experience feels multifaceted. Growing up less than 30 miles from the team’s base camp in Irvine, he frequently sees a familiar highway sign and views a landscape that evokes memories of his childhood.

His second game also brings him back home, as the U.S. faces Australia in Seattle on June 19; Roldan spent pivotal years in college and as a respected midfielder with the Seattle Sounders.

“It’s special to play my second game in Seattle, a place where I developed greatly both as a professional and as a person,” he remarked. “We hope to create lasting memories at these two special venues.”

Though the World Cup occurs globally every four years, it carries unique significance this time. Wright, regularly competing for Coventry City in England’s Championship, shares this sentiment.

He reflects on having grown up in Los Angeles where soccer dominated his formative years while training at the Los Angeles Galaxy academy.

“In Los Angeles, it was all about soccer,” Wright noted.

The competition is fierce in Southern California, a wellspring of talented players. Wright, expected to be among them, now stands on the cusp of playing in the World Cup.

Interestingly, despite his local roots, he’s never played a professional match in Southern California until now, with that changing at SoFi Stadium on Friday.

“It’s a big deal,” Wright said, his excitement palpable. “This is the first time I’m competing here, which feels surreal. It’s like a childhood dream realized.”

When asked about friends or family reaching out for tickets, he laughed, remarking, “Everyone does. There are so many!”

The World Cup journey for Aksten is also steeped in sacrifice. After learning he made the final roster, the first call he made was to his parents.

“They helped me pursue my dream,” he shared. “They drove me all over California.”

This narrative resonates with many soccer families in the Golden State, filled with long drives and weekends at tournaments, all in pursuit of their children’s aspirations.

Now, their son is on his way to the World Cup.

If the U.S. advances past the group stage, Aksten will travel to Japan, with the top seeds in Group D set to play their round of 32 games just two hours from Fresno at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Three players with California roots—

As the World Cup progresses, the focus might shift to stars, tactics, and scores. Yet, interwoven into the narrative of this American team are three men who grew up under California skies, now standing on the brink of history returning home.

For Aksten, Roldan, and Wright, the journey to the 2026 World Cup extends beyond merely returning to the U.S. It has led them back to California.