The Australian national soccer team, the Socceroos, have only just arrived at their training camp in Oakland; however, they are already feeling right at home thanks to the warm welcome from the locals. What started out as a World Cup preparation camp has quickly turned into what feels like a local event where local community members, officials, and fans have come to welcome the Australian men’s soccer team to a city that appears to be ready to embrace them as their second team.
Following the final selection of players, the Australian National Soccer Team (Socceroos) will hold their training camp and base at the city of Oakland, California, just outside of San Francisco. The team will train at the Oakland Roots Sports Club for their last warm-up game on Sunday morning (Western Australian Time) against Switzerland. The Oakland Roots Sports Club, located at the Oakland Raiders (NFL), is a brand new facility built from scratch.
The city of Oakland has continued to celebrate both the Socceroos and their shared culture and history with the Roots and Souls since the welcome ceremony for the Socceroos; the city has provided several ways for fans of both teams to have the chance to experience Australian sports. In addition to an open training session with the Socceroos, there have also been many other ways for people from Oakland to experience being Australian while the Socceroos have been in Oakland; many local politicians attended the Socceroos’ first practice at Laney College; there were invitations extended to the Socceroos for a return visit after their stay in Oakland; and the Roots and the Souls launched a new program, Australia À La Carte, which combines food and storytelling to allow local residents to authentically experience what it is like to be an Australian while they are in Oakland.
To Lindsay Barenz, Oakland Roots & Souls President, the Socceroos visiting Oakland represents the culmination of much effort expended over the previous few years to build a world-class multi-sport venue in Oakland. She articulates how the club has worked closely with the Socceroos to create a unique athletic experience by providing them with access to the facilities developed by Oakland Roots & Souls. In doing so, she feels proud that Australia chose to utilize the facilities in Oakland as a venue for training their elite athletes, and she was sending a very strong statement to the world: Oakland wants to host not only a team from Australia but, more importantly, create a shared experience for people from both countries to come together and celebrate Australian sport in Oakland.
The warmth and openness that Oakland and neighboring Alameda have shown to their sports teams is not by accident; it has a great deal to do with the immense loyalty that these communities have historically shown towards professional sports franchises. According to Barenz, visiting teams have a chance to increase their fandom by becoming more integral to, and invested in, their communities. Examples of such activities include staying in local hotels, dining at local restaurants, and interacting with the people in the community where the team has its franchise, and through these actions the public will often develop a greater degree of fondness for the team and respect for the team.
Additionally, the emotional backstory of Oakland’s recent sports history is significant; the city has faced a tumultuous period regarding its sports scene, beginning with the Golden State Warriors’ departure for San Francisco in 2019. Second, in 2020, the Raiders left for Las Vegas, and finally, in 2024, the Athletics will leave the city, leaving Oakland residents with feelings of disaffection towards the teams that used to represent/embody the culture of the city. In this case, the Socceroos’ arrival has created a very different situation; it is not merely an extraction but rather an opportunity to offer the community something of value, demonstrating appreciation for Oakland and its residents.
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, the mayor of Alameda, highlighted how the city is still marked by exits, but there remains a strong and loyal fan base committed to supporting the city. She explained that welcoming the Socceroos is a significant boost to the economy and can provide a reference mark for future development and sustainability as teams and communities may work together after the tournament concludes. The visit also serves as a copy of what the Socceroos can expect at future international soccer events.
For Australia, the timing couldn’t be better, as momentum and mental health are as important in the World Cup as tactics. The city has provided the Socceroos with an ideal training environment with respect to practicality as well as atmosphere. The payoff for Oakland is watching the streets, venues, and people become part of the global story of football and a place where the Socceroos can develop as they prepare for the World Cup, but will also be welcomed into a greater narrative than simply sports.
