Surprise: Snapdragon Stadium will host 11 Olympic soccer matches in 2028

We knew Snapdragon Stadium would host soccer matches during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. What we didn’t know is how many.

We got the answer Monday, and it was far more than expected: 11.

LA28 organizers reshuffled the Olympic soccer schedule, which initially planned to start east and progressively move west to reduce travel, leaving Snapdragon with maybe a quarterfinal or semifinal before the men’s and women’s tournaments conclude at the 89,702-seat Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Instead, they decided 35,000 capacity Snapdragon is such a suitable venue, both in amenities and vicinity to Los Angeles, that it will host more matches than any of the other six stadiums selected — starting with three women’s group stage doubleheaders on July 11, 14 and 17. (The soccer tournaments begin a few days before the July 14 Opening Ceremony.)

Snapdragon will also host a women’s quarterfinal (July 21), a men’s and women’s semi (July 24-25) and both bronze medal matches (July 27-28).

The 16-team women’s tournament is generally the more coveted ticket because it is a full national team event that comes just a year after the World Cup. The 12-team men’s tournament is for under-23 players with up to three overaged “wild cards” per team.

The draw won’t take place for another two years, so we don’t know who is playing where. And how you fare in the group stage determines what side of the bracket you land in for the knockout phase.

Based on the current schedule, a reasonable guess is that the U.S. women would be in San Diego for group matches, then move to the larger Rose Bowl for the quarters, semis and final while the opposite side of the bracket comes to San Diego.

Registration for the first ticket lottery ends Wednesday at tickets.la28.org, but it remains unclear whether San Diego County residents will be allowed to apply. Information on the LA28 website indicates the first ticket drop is available only to residents of Los Angeles and Oklahoma City (where the Olympic softball and canoe slalom will be held).

The other soccer venues are in San Jose, St. Louis, Nashville, New York and Columbus, Ohio. Of the seven total stadiums, only the Rose Bowl is not a Major League Soccer facility. To comply with Olympic sponsorship rules, Snapdragon will be referred to as “San Diego Stadium” during the Games.

“This is a huge moment for our city and everyone who believes in the unifying power of sports,” Mayor Todd Gloria said at the Feb. 3 news conference announcing that Snapdragon would host a then-unknown quantity of games. “San Diego is ready for the world stage. We are a sports city, we are a soccer city and we are without question a global city.”