In BriefThe Socceroos will play their first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this Sunday.Their training facility in California has some links with Australia. The Socceroos have been preparing at their California base for their first FIFA World Cup match, on a world-class pitch engineered by an Australian abroad.The Australian side will take on Türkiye in Vancouver on Sunday afternoon Australian time.They are now based at the Oakland Roots/Soul Training Facility, which is run by the football club of the same name.The former home of the Oakland Raiders NFL team is also run by groundskeeper and facility manager Marc Logan, who speaks with a strong Australian accent.Having lived in the US for 27 years, Logan said he was "ecstatic" when he learned that Australia's national football team would be based at the training ground he looks after.News that makes senseYour trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox."It's great to have my home country using my facility," Logan told SBS News.Logan said he mixes a product called Mineral Magic — which comes from Western Australia — with the Californian soil under the immaculate pitches at the facility."It's an amorphous silica, and we've been using it for a number of years," Logan explained, adding that he hopes the product's Australian link will help power the Socceroos to strong World Cup performances.Logan brought another reminder of home with him to California — a model of a dingo. Marc Logan brought a replica dingo with him to the United States. Source: SBS News"I thought, 'what the heck?' I needed to have a dingo, just so I could say, has anybody seen my dingo?" he said."So it was important that I keep a little bit of Australia here. I've got a dingo here [to keep] the birds away."All the FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage on our World Cup pageHow to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on SBSWatch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at our On Demand hubHow to favourite your FIFA World Cup 2026™ team and never miss a single moment of the actionThe Roots are the club's men's team. They play in the US second professional tier. The Soul are the women's team, and play at amateur level. In Alameda, where the club is based, the local community is known for its rich diversity.Edreece Arghandiwal, co-founder of the Oakland Roots/Soul Club, told SBS News that football has had a "resounding effect" on his life.He recalled that, when he arrived as a refugee aged five — along with his family and other members of the Afghan community — football "created a sense of identity and purpose in this community".Arghandiwal said the small connections between the club and Australia through people like Logan were "once in a lifetime" stories."I think that all of this has aligned for some reason beyond us and I'm hopeful that that reason is Australia going very far in the tournament," he said."It's a benefit to us, it's a benefit to the entire nation, and we're really wishing them all here."In another surprising twist, the club's left-back Jesus de Vincente used to live not far from Mat Ryan, Australia's veteran goalkeeper, and his mum works at Ryan's Spanish club, Levante.De Vincente was born in the Spanish city of Valencia, which is also home to rival club Levante."I grew up in the city, and then I just came after COVID. I came to college and I played college football ... I was lucky enough to sign my first professional contract this past December and joined the Oakland Roots.""My mum, she's a nurse, and she was with the medical services of Levante. So, when they report for preseason, she's always there. Or, if they get injured, she's always there."Asked about his family's impression of Ryan, the defender says he lives pretty nearby the family."I'm a Valencia fan, so I've known of him for quite a few years already, and then we live nearby, so I've seen him multiple times, and I was lucky to speak to him and meet him, and I think he's an incredible person and professional."From the Aussie grounds into Matt Ryan's medical team in Levante, the six degrees of separation might just be the secret ingredient the Socceroos need at this World Cup.You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.FIFA World Cup 2026™ at SBS On Demand: get match ready.For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.