The Socceroos now know their precise path for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with fixtures and kick-off times confirmed for a group stage that will see them play across three major cities on North America's west coast.
Group D Schedule and Venues
Australia will open their campaign on 12 June 2026 against a European opponent at BC Place in Vancouver. The match kicks off at 9pm local time, which is 2pm on 13 June Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Their European foe will be the winner of a playoff between Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey, and Romania.
The team then travels south to face the co-hosts, the United States, at Seattle Stadium. That match is scheduled for noon local time on 19 June (5am on 20 June AEST). Australia's final Group D fixture is against Paraguay at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium at 7pm on 25 June (12pm on 26 June AEST).
Popovic Welcomes Cooler Conditions
Head coach Tony Popovic expressed satisfaction with the draw, highlighting a significant advantage. The selection of venues in the Pacific Northwest means the team will largely avoid the intense summer heat often experienced elsewhere in North America.
"We were looking at the hot-weather training, and we were preparing for altitude as well," Popovic admitted. "So it will be cooler conditions; I don't think they expect over 20 degrees in June from past history for Seattle or Vancouver. And San Francisco might be just slightly warmer."
He confirmed that this climatic reprieve would not drastically alter the team's existing preparation framework, but it does present a welcome change from what was anticipated.
Next Steps: Base Camps and Preparation
With the schedule now locked in, Football Australia officials and Popovic's staff will immediately turn their attention to finalising logistical plans for the tournament. A key decision is selecting a base camp from the 16 potential options in the western region listed in FIFA's official brochure.
These range from host cities like Vancouver and San Francisco to other major hubs such as Portland and San Diego, and smaller locations including Boise, Idaho and Spokane, Washington.
"[I'll] get with the staff the next day or two and map out a plan," Popovic stated. He outlined the immediate questions to resolve, including the location and duration of a pre-tournament camp, the number of friendly matches to arrange in June, and working back from the confirmed 12 June start date.
Expressing confidence in the process, Popovic praised the experienced support staff around him. "We've got a lot of people here with a lot of experience at World Cups – a lot more than me – in this preparation phase now. And they're confident that we'll get everything that we want in terms of being ready."
