Columbus is one of seven cities that will host games as part of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympic men’s and women’s soccer tournaments, with matches being played at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, home of the Crew.
The venue, which holds 21,000, has hosted multiple international soccer matches for the United States men’s and women’s teams since opening in 2021.
The other additional cities hosting the soccer tournaments are Nashville, New York, San Diego, San Jose and St. Louis.
Throughout the group and knockout stages, the two tournaments will move from east to west, to minimize travel demands, before concluding at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, for the gold medal matches on July 28 and 29, 2028.
The 2028 Olympics will be the first in which the women’s tournament features an expanded 16 teams, while the men’s is narrowed down to 12.
Here’s what else we know about 2028 Olympic soccer coming to Columbus:
Dates for each round of the 2028 Olympic soccer tournaments
The schedule for all Olympic competitions can be found on the LA28 website. The dates are still subject to change.
Men’s soccer
Women’s soccer
Why Columbus was selected to host the 2028 Olympic soccer tournament
When the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Committee and FIFA were evaluating potential MLS venues to host the men’s and women’s tournaments, several different factors went into the decision.
“It’s really a package deal,” Crew president of business operations Mary Shepro said. “It’s a combination of our capacity, the premium seating, the quality of our pitch, which is known around the league as one of the highest quality pitches … and how devoted the city of Columbus is to soccer.”
Are the World Cup, other international soccer events coming to Columbus?
Shepro said Columbus has submitted bids to host CONCACAF events in the upcoming years.
She confirmed Columbus was included in U.S. soccer’s bid to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Shepro feels “highly confident” that Columbus will be a team base for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
“With that, there’ll be community open training with the federation,” Shepro said. “We’re hoping to host a friendly. So, in the coming weeks and months, we really hope to have many more exciting events to announce.”
In 2026, the second round of SheBelieves Cup games and the NWSL Challenge Cup are already scheduled to take place at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
Will there be other events in Columbus for the 2028 Olympics?
Olympic organizers have not announced that any other sport will come to Columbus.
However, the Crew and other local organizations that helped bring the Olympic soccer to the city, such as the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, have started thinking of community events to stage around the Games, despite them being more than two years away.
“Yes, it’s about the teams and the matches going on at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, but also, how else can we be working to grow the game during that time?” Shepro said. “Can we be doing youth soccer camps and clinics? Can we be engaging with our fanbase in a new way? Can we be engaging with all of the visitors that will be coming into town to watch soccer? So, that will all be top of mind for us as we plan for 2028.”
Is Ohio State going to be involved in hosting the 2028 Olympics in Columbus?
While the Crew’s OhioHealth Performance Center will be the primary facility used for the Olympic teams’ training sessions, there is a possibility that other facilities will be needed, including the fields at Ohio State.
In the pitch U.S. soccer sent to FIFA regarding Columbus being a potential host site for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium was one of the training facilities listed for teams to use.
How to get tickets for 2028 Olympic soccer matches in Columbus
The official schedule for both tournaments is expected to be announced in the upcoming months, with tickets going on sale in April. Registration for the Olympic ticket lottery is open until March 18 and can be found at the LA28 website.
This story was updated with additional information
bmackay@dispatch.com
@brimackay15
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What we know about Columbus hosting 2028 Olympic soccer tournaments
Reporting by Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
