Cricket is returning to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028 after its only previous Olympic appearance at Paris 1900. The LA28 cricket tournaments will use the fast-paced T20 format, with six men's teams and six women's teams.
The road to LA28 includes a major sequence of international events, from the ICC World Test Championship Final in June 2027 and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 in Australia and New Zealand.
This guide brings the major events, Olympic qualification pathway, LA28 format, venue, teams to follow and key dates together in one page. Qualification details are based on the latest ICC and LA28 information available as of September 30, 2026.
Cricket at LA28: Quick Facts
| Information | LA28 Cricket |
|---|---|
| Olympic Games | Los Angeles 2028 |
| Olympic dates | July 14–30, 2028 |
| Cricket format | T20 |
| Men's tournament | 6 teams |
| Women's tournament | 6 teams |
| Venue | Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium, Pomona |
| Players per Olympic squad | Up to 15 players per nation |
🗓️ Major Global Cricket Events Through the 2028 Olympics
The period from 2027 through LA28 contains several of international cricket's biggest tournaments. The table below focuses on the major men's events that shape the global calendar and sit alongside the Olympic qualification journey.
| Competition / Event | Period | Host / Venue | Format | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC World Test Championship Final | June 9–13, 2027 | The Oval, London, England | Test Cricket | The WTC title decider between the two finalists of the 2025–27 championship cycle. |
| ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 | October–November 2027 | South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia | ODI / 50-over | A 14-team World Cup with a revised three-stage competition structure before the semi-finals and final. |
| LA28 Olympic Cricket | July 2028 | Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium, Pomona, California | T20 | Six men's teams and six women's teams will compete for Olympic medals. |
| ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 | October 2028 | Australia & New Zealand | T20I | The 20-team tournament will use a revised five-group opening stage followed by a Super 10 round and eliminators. |
The Road to Cricket at LA28
The Olympic qualification system for cricket at LA28 is different from a conventional single qualifying tournament. The ICC and IOC have confirmed a pathway combining ICC T20I rankings, continental representation and a new ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027.
2026 — Ranking Cut-Off Foundations
The men's Olympic pathway uses the ICC Men's T20I rankings at the December 31, 2026 cut-off. Eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania can qualify through the ranking route if they satisfy the top-15 requirement.
2027 — Olympic Qualifier
The first ICC Olympics Qualifier will be held in 2027. Eight nations will take part in the men's and women's qualifier fields, with the remaining Olympic berth in each competition decided through this event.
2028 — Olympic Cricket
The qualified teams will compete in six-team men's and women's T20 tournaments at the Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, California.
🎫 How Cricket Olympic Qualification Works
Men's Competition
- Five places: five of the six men's Olympic places are decided through the ICC Men's T20I ranking pathway.
- Continental representation: the highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania at the December 31, 2026 cut-off can progress, provided they are inside the ICC men's T20I top 15.
- USA host pathway: the United States is eligible for the host-nation route, subject to being in the top 15 of the relevant ICC T20I rankings at the December 31, 2026 cut-off.
- Sixth place: the final Olympic berth is decided by the ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027.
👑 Major Cricket Nations to Follow
The Olympic field will not be complete until the qualification process is finished. However, several established international programs will be closely followed during the road to LA28.
- India — a leading global cricket program across Test, ODI and T20 formats, and the winner of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
- Australia — a major international power across all three formats and one of the co-hosts of the 2028 Men's T20 World Cup.
- England — an established white-ball and Test nation with a major role in the international calendar.
- New Zealand — a consistent international contender and co-host of the 2028 Men's T20 World Cup.
- South Africa — one of the host nations for the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup.
- Pakistan — a major T20 and ODI nation with a large international following.
- West Indies — a historic T20 force, although the ICC has confirmed that the composite West Indies entity is not itself an IOC National Olympic Committee and therefore cannot directly obtain an Olympic quota place.
- United States — the LA28 host nation, with its Olympic qualification subject to the ICC top-15 T20I ranking requirement.
🏆 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027
The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The tournament returns to Africa and will feature 14 teams.
| World Cup 2027 Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Hosts | South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia |
| Teams | 14 |
| Format | Three-stage competition leading to semi-finals and final |
| Opening stage | Super Series involving the three lowest-ranked qualified teams |
| Main stage | 12 teams split into two groups of six, followed by a Super 7 stage |
The ICC approved a revised 2027 format. The competition starts with a three-team Super Series. The successful team joins 11 others in two groups of six, after which the best-performing teams progress to a seven-team Super 7 stage. The top four then advance to the semi-finals.
🏏 ICC World Test Championship Final 2027
The ICC World Test Championship Final 2027 is scheduled for June 9–13, 2027 at The Oval in London. It will decide the champion of the 2025–27 WTC cycle.
The Oval — London
The 2027 final will be the second WTC title decider hosted at The Oval. The two finalists will meet in a five-day Test match, with the final scheduled from June 9 through June 13.
🏅 LA28 Olympic Cricket Format
Cricket at LA28 will be played in the T20 format. The Olympic program includes a six-team men's tournament and a six-team women's tournament.
The men's Olympic tournament will contain six nations.
The women's Olympic tournament will also contain six nations.
Each innings can last a maximum of 20 overs, making it the shortest major international cricket format used at the Olympics.
Qualified nations can select squads of up to 15 players.
LA28 Men's Tournament Structure
The ICC has confirmed that the six Olympic teams will be divided into two groups of three. Each team plays the other teams in its own group once, followed by additional matches against teams from the opposite group that finished in different positions.
| Stage | Structure |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | Two groups of three teams |
| Cross-Group Matches | Additional matches against teams in the opposite group according to finishing position |
| Gold Medal Match | Top two nations contest the gold medal |
| Bronze Medal Match | Third and fourth nations compete for bronze |
📍 Cricket Venue: Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium
The Olympic cricket tournament will be played at the Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, California, in the Los Angeles region. LA28 describes the venue as a purpose-built cricket facility for the Games.
Pomona, California
The Fairgrounds venue will provide the setting for cricket's return to the Olympic program. The site is part of the Pomona Zone of the LA28 Games and is scheduled to host both men's and women's T20 competition.
🌏 ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028
After the Olympics, the global T20 calendar continues with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 in Australia and New Zealand. The tournament will remain a 20-team competition, but the ICC has approved a new format.
| Stage | Format |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | 20 teams in five groups of four |
| Super 10 | Two groups of five teams |
| Eliminators | Four teams compete for the final two semi-final places |
| Knockouts | Semi-finals and final |
📅 Cricket Road to LA28 Timeline
| Period | What to Follow | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ICC T20I rankings and international T20 cricket | December 31 ranking cut-off is central to the men's LA28 pathway. |
| June 2027 | WTC Final at The Oval | Determines the World Test Championship winner for the 2025–27 cycle. |
| 2027 | ICC Men's Cricket World Cup | The 14-team ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. |
| 2027 | ICC Olympics Qualifier | Determines the final Olympic place in each T20 competition. |
| July 2028 | LA28 Olympic Cricket | Six men's and six women's teams compete in T20 cricket. |
| October 2028 | ICC Men's T20 World Cup | Australia and New Zealand host the next men's T20 World Cup. |
📺 How to Watch Cricket on the Road to LA28
Cricket broadcasting rights vary by tournament and country. Fans should check the official ICC platforms, the relevant tournament broadcaster and local rights holders for confirmed television and streaming coverage.
- ICC events: check the official ICC tournament pages for fixtures, results, news and broadcast information.
- LA28 Olympics: Olympic television and streaming rights are territory-specific and will depend on the broadcaster in each country.
- Live scores: use official ICC and tournament sources for the latest scorecards, fixtures and results.
Follow the Official ICC & LA28 Information
Tournament dates, venues, qualification rules and Olympic schedules can be updated. Always check the latest official information before making plans.
ICC Official Website LA28 CricketCricket 2028 Olympics FAQ
When are the 2028 Olympics?
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled for July 14 through July 30, 2028.
Will cricket be played at the 2028 Olympics?
Yes. Cricket will return to the Olympic Games at LA28 after its previous Olympic appearance at Paris 1900.
What format will Olympic cricket use?
LA28 cricket will use the T20 format.
How many teams will play Olympic cricket?
There will be six men's teams and six women's teams.
Where will Olympic cricket be played?
Cricket is scheduled for the Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, California.
How will men's cricket teams qualify for LA28?
Five men's places are determined through the ICC T20I ranking pathway, with continental representation and a top-15 eligibility requirement. The United States has a host-nation pathway subject to the same ranking condition, while the final place is decided through the ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027.
When is the ICC World Test Championship Final 2027?
The final is scheduled for June 9–13, 2027 at The Oval in London.
Where is the 2027 Cricket World Cup?
The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Where is the 2028 Men's T20 World Cup?
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Official Cricket & LA28 Sources
For the most accurate information about Olympic cricket, qualification regulations, tournament calendars, venues and results, use the official sources below.
Cricket 2028 Olympics — Road to Los Angeles
Updated September 30, 2026. Follow the ICC calendar, Olympic qualification pathway and official LA28 announcements as cricket prepares for its return to the Olympic Games.
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