Baseball may have left Oakland’s Coliseum, but upcoming soccer games the first weekend of September will bring local and international fans together to celebrate the world’s most popular sport.
Mexico’s national team will play against Japan’s team in Oakland’s Coliseum on Sept. 6, the first time since 2011 that Mexico’s team has played in Oakland. The following day, the Oakland Roots will play their United Soccer League championship game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Sept. 7, setting up a weekend soccer fans will be sure to enjoy.
Organizers of the Mexico vs. Japan match have said the game will be sure to amaze audiences. Former Mexican team player Moises Munoz, who was raised in Redwood City, said both teams are bringing their best leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Munoz also said that the large Mexican population in the Bay Area makes games feel like the team is playing back in Mexico.
“It feels like they’re at home,” said Munoz. “You’re not only going to see a match, but we’re going to be celebrating Mexico.”
After the Oakland Athletics baseball team left the famed stadium in 2024, teams from other sports have used the facility for their own games in an effort to keep the space open and in use. In June, Major League Cricket held high-profile tournament games, while back in March, Oakland’s local soccer team, The Roots, set a record within the United Soccer League with an attendance of over 26,000 for a home opener.
A celebration of heritage
The championship game between Oakland and Pittsburgh on Sept. 7 will also be the team’s Latin Heritage night, Conoce Tus Raices Days, in which the team plans to celebrate the heritage of those in attendance.
The Roots head coach Benny Feilhaber said fans who come out to the big game between two international teams should also come out and enjoy their local team play a competitive match. According to Feilhaber, no matter how large a team gets, there is something special when it comes to rooting for a smaller team where supporters get to know the players.
“It’s just cool to be a fan of a local team. This is more like, it’s your team, it’s your hometown. If you really want to, you can get to know every single one of these players,” said Feilhaber. “I think that there’s this closeness that I think you feel when you follow a USL championship team, and that’s pretty cool. That’s not something that I think you get at the MLS level or even international level.”
Tickets for the Mexico versus Japan game will be available online. Tickets for the Oakland Roots soccer team can be found on the team’s website.
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