Cricket is officially set to make its long-awaited return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028 (LA28), ending a 128-year absence from the world’s biggest sporting event. The sport was last played at the 1900 Paris Olympics, and its return marks a historic milestone for cricket fans around the globe.
The LA28 Olympics will feature separate men’s and women’s T20 tournaments, with six teams competing in each event. Every team will be allowed a squad of up to 15 players, while a total of 90 athlete quota places have been allocated for both the men’s and women’s competitions. Across the two tournaments, 28 matches will be played as cricket makes its Olympic comeback.
The approval of cricket’s qualification system is another major step in the preparations for the LA28 Games. Since December 2025, qualification systems for 49 Olympic sports and disciplines have been approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Only athletics and football are still awaiting final confirmation of their qualification systems, which are expected to be announced soon.
The IOC Executive Board also approved updates to the qualification system for surfing. While the total number of athlete quota places remains unchanged, the distribution of qualification spots between events organized by the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the World Surf League (WSL) has been revised. The changes are intended to ensure that the world’s best surfers qualify while also increasing opportunities for athletes from a wider range of countries.
The qualification period for LA28 will run from 2026 to 2028, giving athletes multiple opportunities to secure their place at the Olympic Games. The qualification systems have been designed to promote global participation, reduce travel demands, and provide National Olympic Committees, athletes, and support staff with greater certainty as they prepare for the Games.
Under the Olympic Charter, each International Federation is responsible for creating the qualification criteria for its sport, subject to approval by the IOC Executive Board. All qualification systems for the LA28 Olympics have been developed in line with the IOC’s Qualification System Principles to ensure a fair and transparent pathway for athletes worldwide.
