Cricket to return at LA28 Olympics after 128 years, T20 format confirmed

Cricket will return to the Olympic stage after more than a century, with the sport set to feature in the Los Angeles 2028 Games in the fast-paced Twenty20 (T20) format.

The men’s and women’s competitions will each feature six teams, with matches scheduled to begin on July 12 at Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomona, a temporary venue located roughly 50km east of downtown Los Angeles. The women’s medal match is slated for July 20, while the men’s final will be held on July 29.

A total of 180 players will participate across the two events, with each team allowed to name a 15-member squad. Most match days will feature double-headers, starting at 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. local time. No games are scheduled on July 14 and 21.

Cricket last featured in the Olympics at the 1900 Paris Games, when Great Britain defeated France in the only match played. Its return comes alongside four other sports — baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash — approved by the International Olympic Committee for LA28.

“This is a Games for all, and cricket’s inclusion reflects that spirit,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. She also cited the success of the city’s PlayLA youth sports initiative, which recently surpassed one million enrollments.

The Fairgrounds Stadium, located at the Fairplex complex in Pomona, spans nearly 500 acres and regularly hosts large-scale events including the LA County Fair. It will serve as the sole venue for the cricket tournament.

Cricket’s addition follows growing interest in the sport in the United States, particularly after the country co-hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 with the West Indies. Matches were held in Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York.

Women’s cricket has seen increased visibility in recent years, debuting at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and featuring in three Asian Games editions (2010, 2014, 2023) alongside the men’s tournament.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), in coordination with national boards, is now working on creating a fair and transparent qualification pathway to ensure that top-performing teams get a chance to compete at LA28.