The wait is over! LA28 just dropped the full soccer schedule for the 2028 Olympic Games, and it's going to be massive. We're talking about matches stretching from coast to coast across America.
Here's something cool: the soccer action kicks off on July 10, a full four days before the opening ceremony. That's earlier than any Olympic sport has ever started. The men's tournament opens with four group stage matches spread across New York, Columbus, Nashville, and St. Louis.
The women get going on July 11 with games at all six preliminary round venues, including San José and San Diego. This year's tournament is making history with 12 women's teams and 8 men's teams competing - the biggest Olympic soccer tournament ever.
More Rest Days for Better Football
The International Olympic Committee made a smart move here. They've given teams extra rest days between matches, which should mean better quality football throughout the tournament. Each squad gets two days off between group games and three days before the knockout rounds start.
For those thinking about betting angles, this extended rest could level the playing field. Teams with smaller squads won't be as disadvantaged by fatigue, making the later rounds potentially more unpredictable than previous Olympics.
The men's quarterfinals begin July 20, with the women following on July 21. One women's quarterfinal will be at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Rose Bowl and SnapDragon Take Center Stage
The Rose Bowl might be the most famous venue, but it's only hosting five matches total. You'll see both men's and women's semifinals there on July 24, plus both gold medal matches - men's on July 28 and women's on July 29.
San Diego's SnapDragon Stadium is the real workhorse with 11 matches scheduled. That's more than any other venue. It'll host three days of women's group games, a quarterfinal, both semifinals on July 24, and both bronze medal matches.
Ticket news is pretty exciting too. You can now buy up to 12 soccer tickets on top of the regular 12-ticket limit for other Olympic events. That's 24 tickets total if you're a hardcore fan.
Registration for the first ticket drop ends Wednesday at 11:59 PM PDT. Southern California and Oklahoma residents get first dibs starting April 2, with general sales beginning April 9. Over 5 million people have already registered, so competition for tickets will be fierce.
LA28 expects to sell 14 million tickets total, which could break Paris 2024's record. With soccer being one of the most popular Olympic events, those matches will likely be among the toughest tickets to grab.
