Cricket’s Return to the Olympic Games - LA 2028

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially set the cricket event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking the sport’s comeback after 128 years since Paris 1900.

• Start Date: July 12, 2028
   
• Medal Rounds: July 20 and 29, 2028
   
• Format: T20 tournaments for both men’s and women’s teams (6 teams each, 15-player squads, totaling 90 athletes per gender)

Venues & Schedule

• All matches will be held at a temporary stadium at Fairplex in Pomona, about 50 km east of downtown Los Angeles
   
• Daily match slots follow a double-header pattern (e.g., morning and early evening sessions), with rest days interspersed on July 14 and 21
   
• Despite discussions of east-coast broadcasting strategy, the IOC has confirmed matches will remain in California

Context & Significance

• A historic comeback: First time cricket reappears since Great Britain’s gold-winning match in 1900
   
• Global appeal: The fast-paced T20 format is seen as ideal for expanding cricket’s reach, especially into non-traditional markets like the U.S.
   
• Broad inclusion: New T20 events for men and women reflect the IOC's emphasis on gender equity
   
• Strategic push: The move is part of a larger campaign to grow cricket among emerging markets, supported by the ICC and national boards

What’s Next

• Qualification process remains pending; only six teams per tournament, with USA expected to qualify automatically as hosts
   
• Olympic pathway building continues: the ICC is working with national boards like EBC and Cricket Scotland to enable Team GB participation
   
• Venue finalisation & schedule release will occur closer to the Games
   

Cricket’s return to the Olympics is officially on track: July 12–29, 2028, at Pomona’s Fairplex. Expect thrilling six-team T20 events for both men and women—marking a new era of global exposure for the sport.

This revival taps into cricket's massive global fanbase, aligns with strategic efforts to expand in the U.S., and promises high-energy competition on one of sport's biggest stages.