The men’s and women’s soccer tournaments during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are set to take place in various cities across the United States, including locations like New York and Nashville, as announced by event organizers on Tuesday.
A total of seven venues will host the tournaments, mostly MLS and NWSL stadiums, with only three located in California: PayPal Park near San Francisco, Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Other sites include newer stadiums such as Scotts Miracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Energize Park in St. Louis, and Geodis Park in Nashville. Etihad Park, adjacent to New York’s Citi Field, is currently under construction and expected to open in 2027.
As the tournaments progress, the games will gradually move westward toward Los Angeles, concluding at the Rose Bowl, which will host both the men’s and women’s gold medal matches in late July.
In 2028, the women’s tournament will expand to include 16 teams, while the men’s tournament, which features U-23 squads, will be reduced to 12 teams.
2028 Olympic Soccer Venues
- Energize Park, St. Louis
- Etihad Park, New York
- Geodis Park, Nashville
- PayPal Park, San Jose
- Rose Bowl, Pasadena
- Scotts Miracle-Gro Field, Columbus
- Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Key Dates for Olympic Soccer
Women’s Soccer
- Group Stage: July 13th to July 19th
- Quarterfinals: July 22nd
- Semi-finals: July 25th
- Bronze Medal Match: July 28th
- Gold Medal Match: July 29th
Men’s Soccer
- Group Stage: July 12th to July 18th
- Quarterfinals: July 21st
- Semi-finals: July 24th
- Bronze Medal Match: July 27th
- Gold Medal Match: July 28th
The Traditional Format of Olympic Soccer
Olympic soccer tournaments typically feature a wide geographic distribution within the host country, a trend that varies by the country’s size. For instance, six of the seven venues for the 2024 Paris Games are located outside the capital, while five of the six venues in the 2020 Tokyo Games were similarly distant from the city itself.
However, unlike the past three tournaments, the 2028 event will not have group stage matches near Los Angeles, which hosts three professional soccer teams and two stadiums (BMO Stadium and Dignity Health Sports Park). BMO Stadium is allocated for flag football and lacrosse events, while Dignity Health Sports Park will host rugby sevens and archery competitions, excluding them from Olympic soccer use.
Notably, the later stages of both tournaments will take place at the historic Rose Bowl, which is known for hosting some of soccer’s most significant events. This stadium is unique in its Olympic history, having hosted the finals for both the men’s soccer tournament and the World Cups for men and women; it was the site where France captured the Olympic gold in 1984, Brazil clinched the men’s World Cup in 1994, and the U.S. women’s team secured their second World Cup victory in 1999.
Fan Take: This news is monumental for soccer enthusiasts as it signifies the growing prominence of the sport in the U.S. By spreading the tournaments across multiple cities, it not only brings soccer to a wider audience but also underscores the importance of nurturing soccer culture in America, fostering future generations of fans and players alike.
