The San Diego Jewish Academy’s sports complex, originally built in 2006 as a modest field for its students, has quietly evolved into one of the most coveted training grounds for elite soccer teams worldwide. While the campus began as the so‑called “Ballfield for Kids,” its 56 acres now boast a top‑rated natural‑grass pitch, professional maintenance, and a suite of amenities that have attracted national squads, including Switzerland’s World Cup side.
A Campus Reimagined
Switzerland’s national team has made the campus its World Cup training base, extending the pitch’s natural grass and converting a school meeting room into a media center. The squad is lodged at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar and recently played a tune‑up match against Australia at Snapdragon Stadium, a game that helped them secure Group B and set up a round‑of‑32 clash with Algeria.
Beyond the Swiss
The appeal of the facility extends beyond the Swiss side. The U.S. men’s and women’s national teams, along with squads from Italy, England, Germany and the Netherlands, have all trained on the grounds during pre‑draw visits. Adam Benmoise, the academy’s director of auxiliary programs, notes that the pitch’s quality and the staff’s upkeep are the primary draws for international coaches.
A Light‑Hearted Viral Moment
A tongue‑in‑cheek social media post from the Swiss federation, joking about a ‘snake area’ on the field, went viral and sparked a brief wave of confusion among followers, adding a playful footnote to the team’s otherwise serious preparations.
The campus’s reputation also reached Swiss players such as Granit Xhaka, Cedric Itten and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who have all trained there, while team operations manager Damien Mollard praised the venue’s professionalism. The academy is even under consideration as a potential training site for the 2028 Olympics, underscoring its growing stature in global sport.