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Cricket is all set to create history by returning to the Olympic Games after more than a century, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has now revealed how teams can book their place for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. They also announced the first qualifiers for the LA Olympics 2028.
The ICC has also introduced a brand-new qualification tournament for the first time. The new ICC Olympics Qualifier that is scheduled for 2027, will give teams one final chance to earn a place at the LA 2028 Olympic Games and keep their dream alive.
ICC announces road to LA 2028 Olympics
On Monday, June 29, the ICC has confirmed that only six men's teams and six women's teams will compete in cricket at the LA 2028 Olympics. The ICC has made sure that Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania each have at least one team in both men’s and women’s competitions.
Most of the qualification spots will be decided through performances in ICC tournaments and the official ICC T20I rankings. Five teams in both the men's and women's events will qualify directly, while the sixth and final place will be decided through the new ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027.
India Among First Teams to Qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics
The women's qualification process has already started. Australia, India, South Africa, and Great Britain, represented by England, have already secured their places for the LA 2028 Olympics, thanks to their performances in the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
The United States, being the host nation, also has a chance to qualify automatically in both the men's and women's events. However, the American teams must first finish inside the top 15 of the ICC T20I rankings during the qualification period. If either the men's or women's team fails to meet that condition, the automatic place will go to the next highest-ranked team that has not already qualified.
ICC's Olympic decision shocks West Indies
For the men's competition, the remaining direct qualification places for the LA 2028 Olympics will be awarded to the highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania based on the ICC T20I rankings at the end of 2026. However, the West Indies is just unlucky.
Even though the West Indies are one of the strongest teams in world cricket, they cannot compete as the West Indies at the Olympic Games because they represent several Caribbean countries instead of a single nation recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
However, the ICC has kept a special option open for the Caribbean. If the West Indies men's or women's team is ranked high enough but cannot qualify directly, a separate Caribbean qualifying tournament will be held. The winning nation from that event will move on to the ICC Olympics Qualifier and fight for a place at the Olympics.
Jay Shah celebrates Cricket's Olympic return with powerful message
The ICC chairman, Jay Shah, said in an official release: “Cricket’s return to the Olympic Games is a landmark moment for our sport and a powerful opportunity to showcase the very best of cricket to the world. The confirmation of this qualification pathway is an important step towards Los Angeles 2028 and gives members across the world a clear and exciting route to the Olympic stage.
The Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of multi-event sport, and cricket’s inclusion at LA28 will inspire players and fans in every region. This is an historic moment and one of great opportunity for our members as we continue to grow the game and take it to new audiences around the world.”
ICC unveils Olympic cricket format for LA 2028
The ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027 will feature eight men's teams and eight women's teams. Apart from the Caribbean representative, if required, the remaining teams will qualify based on the ICC T20I rankings after excluding those nations that have already secured direct qualification.
The Olympic cricket tournament will be played in the T20 format. Every team will have a squad of 15 players. The six teams will be divided into two groups of three. Each team will play the other two teams in its group before facing two more teams from the other group.
After the league stage, the top two teams will battle for the gold medal, while the third and fourth-placed teams will fight for bronze. All the matches will be played at a new cricket stadium being built in Pomona. A total of 28 matches will be played across the men's and women's competitions at the LA 2028 Olympics.
