LA 2028 Soccer Schedule Announced: San Diego to Host Bronze-Medal Matches

Men's tournament to open Games four days before opening ceremony

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:08am

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The distribution of soccer matches across seven cities for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has been announced by the Games organizers. The men's tournament will kick off on July 10, four days before the opening ceremony, with the first six matches taking place in New York, Columbus, St. Louis, and Nashville. The women's tournament will begin on July 11, three days before the opening ceremony, with games also held in San Jose and San Diego. San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium will host the largest number of matches, including the men's and women's bronze-medal matches.

Why it matters

The earlier start date for the soccer tournaments at the LA 2028 Olympics is intended to allow for additional rest time for the athletes. The distribution of matches across multiple cities is also a strategic move to engage fans and promote the sport across a wider geographic area.

The details

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena will host both gold-medal matches, with the women's gold-medal match closing the soccer tournament on July 29. The quarter-finals are spread across all seven soccer venues, with New York, Columbus, Nashville, and St. Louis hosting the men's quarterfinals on July 20, and the women's quarterfinals taking place in St. Louis, San Jose, San Diego, and Pasadena on July 21. Unlike previous Games, the women's competition at LA28 will feature 16 teams, in four groups of four, while the men's competition will have only 12 teams, split into three groups of four.

  • The men's tournament will kick off on July 10, four days before the opening ceremony.
  • The women's tournament will begin on July 11, three days before the opening ceremony.
  • The men's bronze-medal match will be held on July 27.
  • The women's bronze-medal match will be held on July 28.
  • The women's gold-medal match will close the soccer tournament on July 29.

The players

LA 2028 Olympics

The 2028 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, will be held in Los Angeles, California, United States.

Snapdragon Stadium

A 35,000-capacity stadium located in San Diego, California, which will host the largest number of soccer matches during the LA 2028 Olympics.

Rose Bowl

A 90,000-capacity stadium located in Pasadena, California, which will host the gold-medal matches for both the men's and women's soccer tournaments.

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What’s next

The organizers confirmed that the full schedule, including kick-off times and match pairings, would be announced 'later this year'.

The takeaway

The early start and distribution of soccer matches across multiple cities for the LA 2028 Olympics demonstrate the organizers' commitment to promoting the sport and engaging fans throughout the region. The choice of venues, including the iconic Rose Bowl and the newly built Snapdragon Stadium, also highlights the event's ambition to deliver a world-class soccer tournament.