Olympics 2028: LA Games and Cricket's Big Return
The 2028 Summer Olympics takes place across Los Angeles, USA, between 14th and 30th July 2028, and it has a special place in the hearts of cricket fans. For the first time since 1900 — when Great Britain defeated France in the only Olympic cricket match ever played, back in Paris — the Olympics will include cricket. That 128-year wait ends in T20 format on American soil.
Olympics 2028: Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host City | Los Angeles, USA |
| Dates | 14th to 30th July 2028 |
| Cricket format | T20 men's and women's tournaments with six participating teams each |
| Venue | Fairplex, Pomona (reported — to be confirmed) |
| Last time cricket was played | Great Britain beat France in Paris in 1900 |
| New/returning sports | Cricket, flag football, squash, lacrosse, baseball/softball |
Cricket at the Olympics: After 128 Years
In 1900, the first and only cricket match at the Olympic Games was played between two amateur club sides in Paris. Great Britain earned the gold medals and have held the title for 128 years. Cricket will be back on the program at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles as part of the sport's push into the US market. It marks a symbolic link between American and global cricket, with the reported venue at Fairplex, Pomona — a familiar name to anyone following Major League Cricket, whose matches are already played there. In other words, MLC fans have been watching Olympic cricket's warm-up act.
Tournaments: Format and Qualification
The men's and women's tournaments will follow a six-team T20 format, which means the qualification process will be exceptionally intriguing. The pathway — rankings, qualifiers, or a combination — will be determined officially by the ICC and IOC, and there is genuine mystery about which teams will make the field. With only six spots in each tournament, at least one major cricket nation is guaranteed to miss out — a cliffhanger the sport has never had to face at a global event. This section will be updated with the confirmed pathway and qualified teams as announcements land.
Why Is the LA 2028 Olympic Cricket Tournament So Important to Indian Fans?
An Olympic gold in cricket would instantly rank among the most significant prizes in Indian sporting history — a first-ever chance at an Olympic medal in the country's most-followed game, and one India would enter as the format's dominant force. For Indian fans, it means a unique opportunity to see the sport on the biggest multi-sport stage in the world. The tournament falls between IPL seasons, and with Los Angeles 12.5 hours behind IST, many matches will land in Indian mornings — live viewing without staying up all night. This is why the 2028 Los Angeles Games are set to witness unprecedented cricket interest in India.