LOS ANGELES [February 3, 2026] — The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games announced today that six additional U.S. venues will host matches during the 2028 Olympic Football (Soccer) Tournaments. This announcement coincides with the ongoing registration period for the LA28 Olympic Ticket Draw, which closes on March 18.
Expanding the Olympic Footprint
Group stage and knockout matches will be held across the country, culminating in the final stages – including the men’s gold medal match on July 28, 2028, and the women’s gold medal match on July 29, 2028 – at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium. The selected cities are New York, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Nashville, Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; San José, California; and San Diego, California.
“Bringing Olympic Football group stage and knockout matches to stadiums across the United States means more fans will witness this global event and experience the Olympic spirit firsthand,” said Shana Ferguson, LA28 Chief of Sport and Games Delivery Officer.
Selecting World-Class Stadiums
LA28 collaborated with Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the commercial arm of Major League Soccer (MLS), to identify venues that meet international standards. The selection process prioritized existing, purpose-built stadiums capable of hosting world-class competitions and engaging local communities.
To minimize travel for athletes, LA28 is planning a match distribution that will move the competition progressively from east to west as teams advance. The International Olympic Committee and LA28 are also considering an extended competition window, potentially starting preliminary matches before the Opening Ceremony to allow for increased athlete recovery time.
The full schedule, including dates and match distribution per stadium, will be released before the first ticket drop in April 2026. Team matchups will be determined following the completion of the Olympic qualification process and the official tournament draw.
Venues Selected for Olympic Football
- New York Stadium in New York, future home of the New York City Football Club (completion expected 2027)
- Columbus Stadium in Columbus, home of the Columbus Crew
- Nashville Stadium in Nashville, home of Nashville Soccer Club
- St. Louis Stadium in St. Louis, home of the St. Louis CITY Soccer Club
- San José Stadium in San José, home of the San Jose Earthquakes and Bay Football Club
- San Diego Stadium in San Diego, home of the San Diego Football Club, San Diego Wave Football Club and San Diego State University
A Milestone for Women’s Sports
The 2028 Games will mark a historic first: more women’s Football (Soccer) teams (16) than men’s teams (12) will participate. LA28 will be the first Olympic Games where all team sports feature at least as many women’s teams as men’s, setting a new standard for gender parity in the Games.
Registration for the LA28 Olympic Ticket Draw is currently open and will close on March 18. Further information is available on LA28’s ticketing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the full schedule be released?
The schedule for both the women’s and men’s Football (Soccer) tournaments, including dates and match distribution per stadium, will be announced before the first ticket drop in April 2026.
Where will the gold medal matches be played?
The gold medal matches will be held at the Rose Bowl Stadium, with the men’s final on July 28, 2028, and the women’s final on July 29, 2028.
How many teams will participate in the women’s tournament?
For the first time in Olympic history, 16 women’s teams will compete in the Football (Soccer) tournament.
As the LA28 Games approach, what aspects of the expanded Olympic footprint are you most excited to see unfold?
