Cricket Returns to the Olympics at LA28

Published: 3 July 2026 at 14:00 Reading time: ~ 4 min. Comments: 0

Cricket is officially gearing up for a historic return to the Olympic Games at LA28. The ICC has confirmed the tournament format and the main qualification rules for both men’s and women’s national teams. In this article, we break down how the Olympic cricket tournament will work, who has already booked their tickets, and which teams can still make it to the Games. For fans and teams alike, Cricket Returns to the Olympics at LA28 is more than just a headline – it is a major comeback moment for the sport on the global stage.

Cricket Returns to the Olympics at LA28: How To Qualify

Cricket matches at the LA28 Olympics will take place from July 12 to July 29, 2028. The chosen format is T20, which fits the Olympic program much better: the matches are shorter, more dynamic and easier for a new audience to get into.

The Olympic program will feature two separate tournaments – one for men and one for women. Each tournament will include six national teams, meaning 12 teams in total will take part. Of course, such a compact format should make the battle even tighter!

Qualification for LA28 will run through several routes. Some spots (5) will be allocated based on results at major ICC tournaments and the T20I rankings, while the final tickets will be up for grabs through a special ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027.

The United States’ status as the host nation also matters here. Team USA will be able to compete for an Olympic spot if it meets the ICC ranking requirements. So qualification will be important not only for the traditional cricket powerhouses but also for teams looking to use LA28 as a chance to make some serious noise on the global stage.

Fun fact: the last time cricket featured at the Summer Olympics was way back in 1900 in Paris. Back then, the tournament was tiny: essentially, only one match was played, between teams representing Great Britain and France. Great Britain won that game.

Cricket Returns to the Olympics at LA28: Who Has Already Qualified

The first participants are already known, but only in the women’s competition. Based on the results of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, four teams have secured their places at LA28: they were the best sides among the teams eligible to claim an Olympic quota in their respective regions. In the men’s tournament, the list of participants has not yet been confirmed, so the main fight is still ahead.

Who has already qualified:

Australia (women).
Great Britain (women).
India (women).
South Africa (women).

By the way, there is an interesting situation with the West Indies. In cricket, this team brings together several Caribbean nations, but it cannot compete in that form at the Olympic Games because it is not a separate National Olympic Committee.

That means the West Indies will not receive an Olympic quota directly. If the men’s or women’s team from the region is ranked high enough among the teams that have not yet qualified by December 31, 2026, a separate qualification event will be held for the Caribbean nations. That event will decide which specific NOC gets to represent the region in the ICC Olympic qualification pathway.

Cricket Returns to the Olympics at LA28: Comments

ICC representatives separately stressed that cricket’s return to the Olympic Games is not just another date on the calendar but a major step forward for the entire sport. ICC Chairman Mr. Jay Shah called it a “landmark moment” and noted that confirming the qualification pathway gives national teams around the world a clear route to the Olympic stage. In that sense, cricket returns to the Olympics at LA28 also gives emerging cricket nations a clearer target and a bigger platform to chase.