The Good Land will say “willkommen” or welcome to the Austrian National Soccer Team this summer for the 2026 World Cup.
The European team, Österreichische Fußballnationalmannschaft, will stay at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara and practice at UC Santa Barbara’s Harder Stadium in June, Iris Stöckelmayr, team spokesperson, confirmed to Noozhawk on Wednesday.
“Santa Barbara was my absolute first choice — because of the outstanding training conditions and the perfect environment that awaits the team,” Head Coach Ralf Rangnick said in a statement. “I am convinced that every player will feel comfortable there and that we will be able to prepare optimally for our tasks.
“I am very pleased that Bernhard Neuhold, together with our team managers Lennart Coerdt and Mario Margreiter, was able to finalize this arrangement
The Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles first announced the team’s placement to the Central Coast on its social media.
“We can’t wait for June and the boys to arrive — the team of the general consulate will be cheering them on! “Geh ma’s an!” the post said.
The placement comes about a month after the Goleta City Council authorized city staff in to submit a host city agreement with FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, the largest competition to date with 48 teams.
Goleta is excited to welcome the team, according to Kelly Hoover, city community relations manager.
Submitting the agreement was a necessary first step for the city to even be considered to be a host city. It did not guarantee FIFA would select Goleta.
Additionally, if the city was chosen, it would have no say regarding which team would get placed.
Councilwoman Jennifer Smith had raised a concern regarding whether the selected team might bring potential controversy to the city.
But Johnny Whallon, assistant athletic director for student services at the university, reassured her and city staff that UCSB athletic staff had made a decision to not host any team linked to controversy.
‘We have made that clear to FIFA,” he added.
At the time, the City Council also approved $100,000 to go toward public safety, community engagement and other related costs.
The agreement outlined that the city would need to provide police escorts “within and reasonably outside Goleta” for the team, according to the city staff report.
City Manager Robert Nisbet said he had introduced the idea to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office regarding safety escorts, and they confirmed it would be possible.
While a team has been appointed to the city, the safety plan is still being developed, Hoover said.