San Diego will host Olympic competition for the first time in 44 years. Snapdragon Stadium has been selected as one of six soccer venues for the 2028 Summer Olympics, bringing world-class international competition to Mission Valley — including semifinals and bronze medal matches for both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

What's Confirmed

San Diego’s Match Schedule

Snapdragon Stadium hosts 11 total matches across both the men’s and women’s Olympic soccer tournaments. Note: the three group stage dates are women’s matches only.

Specific kickoff times and team matchups will be announced following the Olympic qualification process and tournament draw.

The Seven Host Venues

San Diego is one of seven cities hosting Olympic soccer. Six venues handle group stage through bronze medal matches; the Rose Bowl hosts both gold medal finals (full LA28 venue plan):

• San Diego — Snapdragon Stadium
• San Jose — PayPal Park
• St. Louis — Energizer Park
• Nashville — Geodis Park
• Columbus — ScottsMiracle-Gro Field
• New York — Etihad Park (under construction, opens 2027)
• Los Angeles — Rose Bowl (Gold Medal matches only)

All six non-LA venues are Major League Soccer stadiums built to international competition standards.

The “San Diego Stadium” Name Change

Tournament Format

Tickets

How the System Works

LA28 uses a random draw-based system — you can’t simply log on and buy. Here’s the process:

1. Create a profile on the LA28 ticketing portal
2. Register during an open registration window
3. If selected in the draw, you receive a 48-hour purchase window via email
4. Once your window opens, you have 30 minutes per transaction to complete checkout
5. You can make multiple purchases during your 48-hour window until you hit your ticket limits

If you weren’t selected for Drop 1, you’re automatically entered into future draws — no need to re-register. If you missed the Drop 1 registration entirely, sign up for the LA28 newsletter to be notified when the next window opens.

Ticket Limits & Pricing

Want to Skip the Lottery?

If you’d rather guarantee your tickets without entering the draw, On Location is the IOC’s only authorized hospitality provider. Their packages include guaranteed tickets, lounge access, and in some cases hotel options. Crucially, On Location tickets do not count against your 12-ticket general limit. Their presale is currently live — and LA28 strongly cautions against purchasing through any unofficial third-party sources.

Resale (2027)

LA28 is launching an official verified resale program in 2027 through authorized partners including AXS, Eventim, Ticketmaster, and Sports Illustrated Tickets. If you buy now and can’t attend, that’s your path. Third-party resales before the official platform launches are not sanctioned and carry real validity risk.

Key Ticketing Links

• LA28 Official Ticketing Hub — draws, purchase windows, and portal access
• LA28 Newsletter Sign-Up — the essential alert for future drop registration windows
• On Location: LA28 Official Hospitality — guaranteed tickets, no lottery required
• LA28 Venues & Zones Guide — useful if you’re planning travel between San Diego and Los Angeles for multiple events
• San Diego FC Olympic Announcement — localized updates on the 11 matches and stadium logistics

Key Dates

Planning Your Visit

The Olympics will draw international crowds at a scale well beyond a standard SDFC or Wave match. A few things to think about early:

• Trolley first: The MTS Green Line connects directly to Snapdragon. LA28 will heavily encourage transit over driving — parking congestion will be significant. Trolley guide here.
• Buffer everything: If attending multiple events across zones (San Diego and Los Angeles), LA28 officially advises massive travel time buffers between them.
• Payment: Visa is the official Olympic payment partner. Be prepared to use Visa or cash on-site; if purchasing from outside the U.S., notify your bank ahead of your ticket window to prevent fraud blocks.
• Book accommodation early: San Diego hotel inventory around these dates will tighten significantly. Hotels near Snapdragon.

Historical Context

This marks San Diego’s return to Olympic hosting after 44 years. The 1984 Summer Olympics included equestrian events at what is now Fairbanks Ranch Country Club.

Snapdragon Stadium sits on the San Diego State University campus in Mission Valley, on the same site as the former San Diego Stadium (later Qualcomm Stadium) — a venue that hosted World Cup qualifiers and CONCACAF Gold Cup matches. The city has a long track record with major events, including three Super Bowls and two MLB All-Star Games.

The Olympic announcement follows San Diego’s other major 2026 international soccer moment: the FIFA World Cup, for which the city is hosting warmup matches at Snapdragon in June. The Countdown to ’26 weekend on June 6–7 brings Switzerland, Australia, Colombia, and Jordan to Mission Valley as four nations tune up for the tournament.

Why It Matters

San Diego supports three professional soccer clubs — San Diego FC (MLS), San Diego Wave FC (NWSL), and San Diego Loyal (USL) — and has consistently drawn strong crowds for international competitions. Snapdragon was built from the ground up as a soccer-first stadium. The Olympic selection reflects what the market already demonstrated: soccer works here.

“This is a huge moment for our city and everyone who believes in the unifying power of sports. 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.”

“Soccer thrives in San Diego… Having all eyes on San Diego is going to be additive to what happens two years prior with the World Cup here this summer.”

“There’s so many national team players and so many Olympians that come from San Diego in the soccer world… to now be able to host it in our backyard, I know the City is going to show up and put on a premier event.”