OLYMPICS: LA28 ticket registration nears deadline as first Olympic qualifiers emerge

LOS ANGELES – Organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics announced that registration for the first ticket draw will close on March 18, as preparations continue with the first baseball qualifiers confirmed and an expanded schedule for the soccer tournament.

Since January, over five million fans from 197 countries and territories have signed up at tickets.la28.org to secure a chance to purchase tickets for the Summer Games, which are set to open on July 14, 2028.

Fans who register by the March 18 deadline will be entered into a lottery for a purchase window during the first ticket release, scheduled from April 9 to 19. Selected registrants will be notified by email between March 31 and April 7. Those chosen can buy up to 12 tickets for Olympic events, with a limit of four tickets for each of the opening and closing ceremonies.

In addition, a local presale will run from April 2 to 6 for residents of parts of Southern California and Oklahoma. Oklahoma City will host softball and canoe slalom events.

Baseball Returns to the Olympics

Baseball, which will return to the Olympic program for the first time since Tokyo 2020, has started confirming its participants. The United States, as host, along with Dominican Republic and Venezuela, have earned spots in the six-team tournament through the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Remaining spots will be decided through international qualifying tournaments in 2027 and 2028. The baseball games are scheduled to be held at Dodger Stadium from July 13–19, 2028.

Soccer Tournament Expanded

The Olympic soccer tournament will now begin on July 10, four days before the opening ceremony, following a decision to extend the competition window. Organizers said the longer schedule allows teams two extra rest days compared with previous Games.

Group-stage and quarter-final matches will take place in seven U.S. cities: New York, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San Jose, San Diego, and Pasadena. Both the men’s and women’s gold medal matches will be held at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff times and the full schedule are expected to be announced later this year. -Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los AngelesEditing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters