Ziemer: Connections near and far renewed during World Cup

Ziemer: Connections near and far renewed during World Cup describes how long-running soccer ties in Northern California are being rekindled through the 39-day tournament. Chris Ziemer, director of athletics at Sonoma Academy and a longtime Sonoma County soccer coach, says he will attend multiple World Cup matches and share observations with Press Democrat readers. He recounts that in 2000 he was contacted by Australian coach Geoff Stanmore, who sought to bring teams to California, leading to homestays, training sessions and matches for Santa Rosa United. Over the next 25 years, Geoff returned with numerous youth teams, including Leigh Wardell, an Australian national team player from 1978 to 1988 and later a Football Australia Hall of Fame inductee. Ziemer describes reconnection around the Australia–Paraguay match at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, which also aligned with the U.S.–Turkey match in Los Angeles, and explains how a friend’s last-minute ticket transfer brought him and Leigh Wardell into the experience. He then details the pickup of Wardell and other travelers before heading to the stadium.