The day after arriving in the United States, Les Parisiens left their Newport Beach hotel and headed to the University of California's Irvine campus, which would be the venue for all of their training sessions on America's west coast. Luis Enrique's men were quite literally welcomed with great fanfare, too, as an orchestra and a group of local cheerleaders were there for the team's first training session.
Once on site, Les Rouge et Bleu made themselves familiar with the campus's modern facilities, not least Crawford Field. "Paris Saint-Germain using the UCI's sporting facilities as its training base, similarly to NFL teams' training camps, further strengthens UC Irvine and the city of Irvine as a first-class destination for elite sports development and for international sports partnerships," explained Paula Smith, UC Irvine's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Under the scorching California sun, the capital club got down to work each day in preparation for its opening game at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, as well as finding the time to respond to the local fans' daily requests for autographs and photos. "It's incredible to see them here," explained Juan, an unconditional Paris Saint-Germain fan stood in front of the team's hotel with his friends. "Several of the players have signed my shirt and taken the time to pose for photos with us. We're stoked to have had the chance to see them, and I'm sure that they'll win the Club World Cup!"
Although they've still got a lot of work to do to get there, Luis Enrique's players registered a scintillating first win over Atlético de Madrid, which didn't go unnoticed by the locals. "I went to the game at the Rose Bowl," William, a former UCI student, told us. "Paris put in a top-notch performance and beat a great team in sensational fashion. It's great to see them enjoying the university's excellent facilities, and I hope and am sure that they'll have a great stay."
Les Rouge et Bleu's stint in California will come to an end in five days' time, after their second group game against Botafogo. "We're thrilled to have had the chance to host a team like Paris Saint-Germain," concluded Isabella, a student in marketing and digital communications. "Having the newly crowned Champions League winners here is fantastic. Let's hope that they pick up another trophy!"
After Newport Beach and Irvine, Les Parisiens' next stop will be Seattle for their third and final game in Group B against the Seattle Sounders.