New Delhi: The qualifying tournaments for the men’s and women’s cricket competitions at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are expected to take place in January and February 2028, according to a report citing the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) global events calendar.
The schedule places the qualifying events less than six months before cricket returns to the Olympic programme at LA28. The dates were included in a calendar circulated by the ICC to its member boards following meetings in Dubai in October 2026. The participating teams and venues for the qualifying tournaments are yet to be finalised.
Cricket’s return to the Olympics will be a major milestone for the sport, which last featured at the Games in Paris in 1900. The Los Angeles edition will use the Twenty20 (T20) format, with six teams competing in each of the men’s and women’s events.
The revised qualification timeline gives national teams a clearer idea of when the remaining Olympic places will be decided, while also adding an important tournament window to an already busy international cricket calendar.
Eight teams expected in each qualifying tournament
According to the reported ICC schedule, the men’s and women’s Olympic qualifying tournaments will each feature eight teams. The ICC will determine the participants using the applicable qualification criteria and international rankings.
The qualifying events will decide the final places available for the Olympic competitions. The broader qualification pathway combines direct qualification through designated international events and rankings with the final qualifying tournaments.
The ICC and the International Olympic Committee previously confirmed that six nations will compete in each Olympic cricket competition. The matches at the Games are scheduled to be held at a purpose-built cricket venue in Pomona, California.
The move to January–February 2028 represents a change from the earlier plan to conduct the qualifiers in 2027. With the Olympics scheduled for the summer of 2028, the revised window leaves teams with a relatively short period between qualification and the main event.
The ICC is expected to confirm further details, including venues and the final list of participating teams, as the qualification process progresses.
India among the teams already qualified for women’s cricket
India have already secured a place in the women’s cricket competition at the Los Angeles Olympics, alongside Australia, South Africa and Great Britain.
These teams earned their places as the highest-ranked sides from their respective continents based on their performances at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, according to the reported qualification arrangements.
India’s qualification ensures that the country will have an opportunity to compete for an Olympic medal when women’s cricket returns to the Games.
The remaining places will be decided through the applicable qualification process, including the eight-team qualifying tournament. The final composition of the field will depend on the rankings and eligibility rules in force during the qualification period.
For India, securing an Olympic place well ahead of the Games provides greater clarity when planning the women’s team’s international schedule and preparations. The team will still need to manage player workloads and build towards the tournament amid other major international commitments.
How the men’s Olympic qualification process works
The men’s qualification pathway relies partly on international rankings. Under the reported criteria, the highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania as of December 31, 2026, will secure direct qualification places.
The United States, as the host nation, is also eligible to participate in the men’s and women’s competitions, subject to the ranking requirements announced for the qualification period from June 30 to December 31, 2026.
The host nation’s eligibility is therefore not simply automatic under the reported arrangements. If the US women’s team does not meet the required ranking criteria, the allocation of that place will be determined under the revised process. The ICC communication cited in reports states that the women’s host place would be reassigned based on the standings of the 2027 Women’s Champions Trophy, using March 1, 2027, as the cut-off date.
These rules are important because the Olympic cricket competition is limited to six teams in each category. The qualification system must therefore balance continental representation, host-nation eligibility and performance in designated international competitions.
The final eight-team qualifiers will provide another route for countries still competing for the remaining Olympic places.
Cricket returns to the Olympic stage after more than a century
Cricket’s inclusion at LA28 marks the sport’s return to the Olympics after an absence of more than 100 years. Its only previous Olympic appearance was at the 1900 Paris Games, when Great Britain and France contested the competition.
The return reflects the international growth of T20 cricket, a shorter format that can fit more easily into a multi-sport event than traditional Test cricket or longer limited-overs matches.
The six-team format will make qualification particularly important. Unlike larger world tournaments, the Olympic competition will offer a limited number of places, increasing the significance of rankings and qualifying matches.
For cricket boards, the Olympics will also provide an opportunity to showcase the sport to audiences who may not regularly follow international cricket. The presence of both men’s and women’s competitions will give the sport a prominent place on the Olympic programme.
ICC outlines wider international calendar
The reported calendar extends beyond the Olympic qualifiers. It includes 12 men’s events, seven women’s events and five Under-19 events, including qualifiers, scheduled between the 2027 and 2031 One Day International World Cups.
The schedule also places the final of the 2029 World Test Championship in England from June 8 to 12, 2029. The dates form part of the ICC’s broader effort to map international competitions across multiple formats and age groups.
For international teams, the calendar will require careful planning around bilateral series, global tournaments and player workloads. The Olympic qualifiers in early 2028 will be particularly significant because they fall only months before the Games.
While the reported dates provide a clearer timeline, some details of the international calendar and qualification arrangements remain subject to confirmation.
Road to Los Angeles enters a crucial phase
The January–February 2028 qualifying window will be a key stage in determining which teams join the already qualified sides at the Los Angeles Olympics.
India’s women have secured their place, while the men’s field will take shape through the ranking-based pathway and final qualifying process. The United States’ eligibility will also depend on the applicable criteria.
With cricket set to return to the Olympic stage, the coming months will be important for national boards preparing their squads and international schedules. The qualifiers will decide the remaining places and complete the field for one of the sport’s most anticipated events in 2028.