Snapdragon Stadium To Host International Friendlies Before World Cup

Switzerland vs. Australia and Colombia vs. Jordan matches scheduled in June

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:53pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a soccer match, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors like blue, green, and red.The upcoming international friendlies at Snapdragon Stadium will give World Cup teams a chance to fine-tune their squads and experience the electric atmosphere of global soccer in San Diego.San Diego Today

Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California will host two international friendly soccer matches in June as part of teams' preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Switzerland will face Australia on June 6, while Colombia will take on Jordan on June 7. All four teams are headed to the World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.

Why it matters

These matches will give the participating teams a chance to fine-tune their squads and get a feel for the atmosphere of playing in a World Cup stadium before the tournament begins. San Diego is positioning itself as a hub for international soccer, with Snapdragon Stadium serving as a key venue.

The details

The Switzerland vs. Australia match on June 6 will be Switzerland's final friendly before the World Cup, while the Colombia vs. Jordan match on June 7 will be Colombia's last preparation match before heading to their basecamp in Guadalajara, Mexico. Tickets for the 'Countdown to '26' matches are on sale now.

  • The matches will take place on June 6 and June 7, 2026.
  • Switzerland will arrive in San Diego on June 2 to begin their World Cup preparations.
  • Australia is based out of the San Francisco Bay Area for the duration of the World Cup.

The players

Murat Yakin

Switzerland National Team Head Coach.

Heather Garriock

Executive director for Football Australia.

Tony Popovic

Head Coach of the Australia national team.

Tomm Penn

CEO of San Diego Football Club.

Mark Neville

CEO of Sports San Diego.

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What they’re saying

“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

“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.”

— Tomm Penn, CEO of San Diego Football Club

What’s next

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

The takeaway

San Diego is positioning itself as a hub for international soccer, with Snapdragon Stadium serving as a key venue for teams to prepare for the 2026 World Cup. These high-profile friendly matches will give local fans a chance to experience the electric atmosphere of global football ahead of the world's biggest sporting event.