The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the qualification process for cricket’s return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028. The sport will feature in the Olympics for the first time since 1900, with men’s and women’s T20 competitions each involving six teams.
Five teams in both events will qualify through a combination of ICC tournaments and the T20I rankings at the designated cut-off dates. The remaining place will be decided through a new ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027, which will serve as the final route to the Games.
Six-team format confirmed
The qualification model has been designed to reward consistent international performances while ensuring representation from different regions. Teams will secure Olympic spots based on results in ICC events and their position in the T20I rankings.
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The 2027 ICC Olympics Qualifier will decide the sixth and final team in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. It will be the first dedicated Olympic qualification event organised by the ICC.
A special provision has also been made for the West Indies. Since the Caribbean side competes as a combined team and not as a single National Olympic Committee recognised by the International Olympic Committee, it cannot participate in the Olympics as one unit.
4 out of 6 spots in Women's Cricket event locked in at #LA28 ✅
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 29, 2026
Australia, Great Britain (via England), India & South Africa have qualified for the six-team women's event after finishing as the highest-ranked teams from Oceania, Europe, Asia & Africa, respectively, at the… pic.twitter.com/7MDzDIv0pX
If West Indies earn a qualifying position, an internal Caribbean playoff will determine which eligible nation advances to the final qualifier.
ICC welcomes major milestone
ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the confirmation of the qualification pathway is an important step towards cricket’s Olympic return. He added that the structure gives member nations a clear opportunity to compete for a place at LA28 while helping the game reach new audiences across the world.
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ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said the pathway balances sporting merit with wider global representation and adds excitement through the introduction of a standalone qualifying tournament.
Cricket will return to the Olympics after a gap of 128 years, with Los Angeles 2028 hosting separate men’s and women’s T20 competitions. Each team will consist of up to 15 players, with a total of 28 matches scheduled during the Games.
