One of the most popular teams in the United States is returning to Oakland.
No, not the Warriors.
The Mexican national soccer team, which fills stadiums everywhere it plays in the U.S., will play a friendly match against Japan at the Oakland Coliseum on Sept. 6, Mexico’s soccer federation announced Tuesday. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. PT.
The last time Mexico played in the Bay Area was July 2, 2023, when it lost its group stage finale in the Gold Cup to Qatar at Levi’s Stadium but still managed to win the group and, eventually, the tournament.
Mexico will play a second friendly three days later against South Korea, but the location has not yet been named.
The Oakland Roots game against the Pittsburgh Riverhouunds initially scheduled for Sept. 6 has been moved to Sept. 7 and will kick off at 1 p.m.
Both Mexico and Japan will be building up to the 2026 World Cup as Japan qualified in March and Mexico has an automatic bid as one of three host nations, along with the U.S. and Canada.
Japan will play the U.S. in Columbus on Sept. 9 in Columbus, three days after South Korea plays the Americans in New Jersey.
Tickets for the match in Oakland will go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. at SomosLocales.com.
Six World Cup matches will be played at Levi’s Stadium during the 2026 World Cup, so Mexico or Japan could find its way back to the Bay Area soon.