At the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, the Socceroos have found a home away from home during the World Cup. The grand resort, perched in the hills overlooking San Francisco Bay, has been adapted to ensure the Australian squad's stay is as comfortable as possible. From a games room with ping pong and pool to a dedicated chef preparing organic omelettes, every detail has been tailored to the team's needs. And of course, Vegemite is on tap.
Historical Setting and Team Spirit
The Claremont Hotel has a rich history. In 1937, a thirsty University of California student discovered that the hotel was just outside the one-mile prohibition radius from campus, leading to the opening of its bar. Nearly a century later, the Socceroos occupy the same castle-like building. Team staff have adorned the walls with memorabilia from past World Cup campaigns, including jerseys from every tournament since 1974. "Qualifying for a World Cup is never taken for granted. Non-qualification is seared in our hearts, so we honour our successes," said Football Australia's head of national teams, Gary Moretti. "The players walk past that memorabilia every day."
Games and Relaxation
Players spend much of their downtime together in the communal spaces. Defender Alessandro Circati noted, "My favourite [part of the hotel] would have to be the games room; there's a ping pong table, there's a cafe in there, there's darts, pool. That'd probably be the place apart from my room where I spend the most time." The cafe is staffed by a barista named Bobby, and a Brazilian head chef prepares 24 omelettes daily, along with barbecue and sushi. "Because they'll be here for close to two months, the main focus is variation," said head chef Vini Capovella, who is at his fourth World Cup. "We put together menus using the amazing organic produce we can find here in California. However, we did bring some Australian products. Vegemite – it's a staple food we cannot escape from."
Inspiring the Next Generation
The historical displays have prompted young players like Nestory Irankunda and Mo Touré to reflect on their place in Socceroos history. "On our table we have a lot of young boys and we were like, that's our goal as well for one day," Touré told the Guardian. The team's third group match against Paraguay is an hour's drive from the hotel, with training facilities less than 30 minutes away. "The combination of the training site and the quality of this hotel was critical for Australia's home away from home," Moretti said.
Looking Ahead
Should the Socceroos advance to the knockout stage, they will vacate the Claremont and move to a hotel in the host city of their round of 32 match, which could be Boston, New York, or Dallas. For now, they enjoy the comforts of Berkeley, hoping to add another famous chapter to their World Cup story.
