San Diego to Host Four World Cup Teams for June Friendlies

Snapdragon Stadium will welcome Switzerland, Australia, Colombia, and Jordan as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:26pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a soccer match between two national teams, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.A cubist interpretation of the upcoming World Cup tune-up match between Switzerland and Australia at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.San Diego Today

Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California will host a pair of 'Countdown to '26' soccer matches in early June, featuring four national teams that have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The first match on June 6 will see Switzerland take on Australia, while the following day Colombia will face off against Jordan.

Why it matters

This pre-World Cup event will give San Diego a chance to showcase its passion for the sport and establish itself as a hub for international football in the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.

The details

The two matches are being organized by San Diego FC in partnership with Sports San Diego and Lions Sports & Media. Switzerland and Colombia are using the games as final tune-ups before the World Cup, with Switzerland basing its pre-tournament camp in San Diego. Jordan is making its first-ever World Cup appearance after qualifying last year.

  • The first match will be played on June 6, 2026.
  • The second match will be played on June 7, 2026.

The players

Snapdragon Stadium

The home stadium of San Diego FC and the venue for the two 'Countdown to '26' matches.

Tom Penn

CEO of San Diego FC, who said the matches reflect the city's ambition to be a global hub for football.

Murat Yakin

Head coach of the Swiss national team, who hopes to see Swiss fans come out to support the team in California.

Colombia

The Colombian national team, ranked 13th in the world, will use the match against Jordan as its final tune-up before the World Cup.

Jordan

The Jordanian national team, making its first-ever World Cup appearance, will face Colombia in one of the San Diego matches.

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What they’re saying

“From day one, our vision has been to establish San Diego as a true epicenter of football in the United States and on the global stage. We believe this city has the passion, diversity and infrastructure to be at the forefront of the game, and hosting these international matches at Snapdragon Stadium reflects that ambition – bringing world-class teams to our community as they prepare for the biggest stage in international football this summer.”

— Tom Penn, CEO, San Diego FC

“We are very happy to be able to test against a strong opponent in San Diego exactly one week before our opening World Cup match. The game will take place in a modern MLS stadium, which will give the players an initial feel for the World Cup atmosphere.”

— Murat Yakin, Head Coach, Swiss National Team

What’s next

The four teams will continue their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the San Diego friendlies, with Switzerland and Colombia finalizing their World Cup rosters and travel plans.

The takeaway

San Diego's hosting of these high-profile World Cup tune-up matches demonstrates the city's growing reputation as a hub for international football, setting the stage for it to play a prominent role during the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.