Snapdragon Stadium to Host International Soccer Friendlies Before World Cup

San Diego venue to welcome Switzerland vs. Australia and Colombia vs. Jordan matches in June 2026 as teams prepare for tournament

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:21pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the abstracted forms of soccer players from the Swiss and Australian national teams engaged in a match, with their bodies and movements fractured into sharp, overlapping planes of color.The electric atmosphere of international soccer comes to San Diego as Snapdragon Stadium hosts high-stakes World Cup tune-up matches.San Diego Today

Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California will host two international soccer friendly matches in June 2026 as part of the 'Countdown to '26' event ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The matches will feature Switzerland vs. Australia and Colombia vs. Jordan, all four of which are World Cup-bound national teams.

Why it matters

These high-profile international friendlies will give San Diego a chance to showcase its soccer passion and infrastructure as a host city for the 2026 World Cup. The matches will also provide valuable preparation time for the participating teams as they get ready for the global tournament.

The details

The Switzerland vs. Australia match will take place on June 6, while Colombia will face Jordan on June 7. All four teams are headed to the 2026 World Cup, with Switzerland and New Zealand basing their operations in San Diego during the tournament. The matches will be held at the recently opened Snapdragon Stadium, home of the San Diego Football Club.

  • The matches will be held on June 6 and June 7, 2026.
  • Switzerland's national team will arrive in San Diego on June 2 to begin their World Cup preparations.

The players

Snapdragon Stadium

A newly opened soccer-specific stadium in San Diego, California that will host international friendly matches as part of the 'Countdown to '26' event ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Switzerland National Team

One of the national teams competing in the 2026 World Cup, with San Diego as their home base for the tournament.

Australia National Team

One of the national teams competing in the 2026 World Cup, with the San Francisco Bay Area as their base camp.

Colombia National Team

One of the national teams competing in the 2026 World Cup, with Guadalajara, Mexico as their official basecamp.

Jordan National Team

One of the national teams competing in the 2026 World Cup, with Santa Clara, California as the location for their first two group stage matches.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to work with [San Diego Football Club] to bring these matches to our soccer fans throughout the region. Fans from these nations, alongside local fans of the beautiful game, will experience the electric atmosphere of international soccer right here in San Diego. We're thrilled to be hosting these friendlies.”

— Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego

“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. In addition to its sporting relevance, the match against the strong Australian team is also valuable in helping us adapt to the climatic conditions in the United States.”

— Murat Yakin, Switzerland National Team Head Coach

“We look forward to playing another match in California, which will serve as our FIFA World Cup 2026 home, with our base camp located in the San Francisco Bay Area. As our final friendly before the World Cup, this will be a crucial fixture for the CommBank Socceroos and Head Coach Tony Popovic.”

— Heather Garriock, Executive Director for Football Australia

What’s next

Tickets for the 'Countdown to '26' matches in early June are on sale now at SanDiegoFC.com/CountdownTo26.

The takeaway

San Diego is positioning itself as a premier destination for international soccer, hosting high-profile friendly matches between World Cup-bound national teams as they prepare for the 2026 tournament. These events will showcase the city's passion for the sport and its ability to host major global events.