The CommBank Socceroos will call Oakland, California – in the San Francisco Bay Area – home during the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The Oakland Roots/Soul Training Facility has been selected as the CommBank Socceroos’ official Base Camp training site for their seventh FIFA World Cup appearance.
Located on Bay Farm Island in Alameda, California, the Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Soccer Club’s first-class training facility will host Head Coach Tony Popovic’s CommBank Socceroos squad.
Australia has been drawn in Group D and is set to take on the Winner of UEFA Play-off C in Vancouver (June 13), before facing World Cup co-hosts the United States in Seattle (June 19). Their final group-stage clash will be against Paraguay at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara (June 25).
Popovic, who was part of Australia’s drought-breaking 2006 FIFA World Cup squad as a player, said he was looking forward to making Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area home.
“We secured the San Francisco Bay Area, which was our top pick. The Oakland training base is ideal for our needs, and we are looking forward to making it our home throughout the FIFA World Cup,” Popovic said.
“The Socceroos staff has done a wonderful job, and I am confident the players will be very happy in this environment.
“It will be a comfortable setting for the players. We also believe the region will be a fantastic, welcoming location for our travelling fans.
“The facility is elite, and the training pitches are fantastic. The local community, including everyone at the Oakland Roots and Soul Soccer Club, has been very accommodating and a pleasure to work with.
“Our team includes staff with previous World Cup experience who understand the importance of selecting the right base camp. A lot of work has gone into the selection process. Now we have staff going back there in March to finalise the details ahead of our arrival.”
Football Australia Interim CEO Heather Garriock said it was a great outcome for CommBank Socceroos players and fans.
“We are delighted to call Oakland, Alameda, the San Francisco Bay Area and California home during the FIFA World Cup 2026. We look forward to forging close ties with the local community, both on and off the field,” Garriock said.
“Most importantly, CommBank Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic and his high-performance team are pleased with the selection. Having Oakland confirmed as our official base camp provides the players with a first-class environment to prepare for the rigours of a World Cup.
“There are many synergies between the city of Oakland, the broader San Francisco Bay Area and the CommBank Socceroos. We look forward to building a lasting partnership and enjoying the hospitality and passionate backing of the Oakland Roots and Soul SC, and the local community.”
The Oakland Roots and Soul SC clubs were looking forward to hosting the CommBank Socceroos and travelling fans.
“We are proud to host such a premier team in the world of soccer,” Oakland Roots and Soul SC President Lindsay Barenz said.
“Australia has an incredible fan base, and we look forward to welcoming them to our city and region.”
CommBank Socceroos Group Stage matches | FIFA World Cup 2026™
Australia v Winner UEFA Play-Off C (Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo)
Date: Saturday, 13 June
Venue: BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Kick-off: 9:00pm local / 2:00pm AEST (Sunday, 14 June)
Broadcast: SBS and SBS On Demand
USA v Australia
Date: Friday, 19 June
Venue: Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USA
Kick-off: 12:00pm local / 5:00am AEST (Saturday, 20 June)
Broadcast: SBS and SBS On Demand
Paraguay v Australia
Date: Thursday, 25 June
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, USA
Kick-off: 7:00pm local / 12:00pm AEST (Friday, 26 June)
Broadcast: SBS and SBS On Demand
Full FIFA World Cup 2026™ draw
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Winner UEFA Play-Off D (Denmark/North Macedonia/Czechia/Republic of Ireland)
Group B: Canada, Winner UEFA Play-Off A (Wales/Italy/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Northern Ireland) Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Winner UEFA Play-Off C (Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo)
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner UEFA Play-Off B (Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania), Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, IR Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Winner FIFA Play-Off 2 (Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname) Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Winner FIFA Play-Off 1 (Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia), Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama