The ICC has scheduled the men’s and women’s qualifiers for cricket at the LA 2028 Olympics for January–February 2028. Each qualifier will have eight teams, and only the winner gets the sixth and final Olympic spot. Venues are not confirmed yet. India’s women have already qualified, while the men’s spot depends on T20I rankings on December 31, 2026.
If you’ve been following cricket’s road to the Olympics, this is the update a lot of us were waiting for. The news came out on October 23, 2026, after ESPNcricinfo reported that the dates appear in a global events list the ICC shared with its member boards after its October meetings in Dubai. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s confirmed, what changed, and what it means for India.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Qualifier window: January–February 2028 (men’s and women’s)
- Original plan: The ICC had first listed it as the “ICC Olympics Qualifier 2027”
- Teams per qualifier: 8 (seven highest-ranked non-qualified sides + the Caribbean Regional Qualifier winner)
- Spots on offer: 1 per gender (the sixth and final Olympic place)
- Venues: Not finalised yet
- Olympic cricket dates: July 12 to July 29, 2028, at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, about 50 km from Los Angeles
- Medal matches: Women’s gold on July 20, men’s gold on July 29, 2028
- Format at LA28: T20, six teams per gender, 15-player squads
Why the Qualifier Was Moved to 2028
When the ICC and the IOC announced the qualification pathway on June 29, 2026, the final spot was to be decided at a brand-new event called the ICC Olympics Qualifier 2027. The ICC’s official release said dates and a host would “follow in due course.”
Now the window has been pushed to early 2028. That means the last two teams will be locked in less than six months before the Games. The ICC hasn’t publicly explained the reason. Honestly, my guess is that the calendar between now and the end of 2027 is already packed, but that’s my read, not an official statement.
How Teams Qualify for LA 2028 Cricket
Six teams will play in each of the men’s and women’s events. Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania are all guaranteed a team. Here’s how the slots work.
Women’s Event
Four teams are already in: Australia, India, South Africa and Great Britain. They qualified as the best-ranked eligible teams from their continents based on the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. So yes, India’s women are confirmed for LA28.
The fifth slot is meant for hosts USA, but only if they break into the top 15 of the women’s T20I rankings at any point between June 30 and December 31, 2026. They’re currently ranked 19th, so it looks tough.
Men’s Event
For the men, the highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania on the T20I rankings as of December 31, 2026 will qualify directly. The USA men are ranked 13th, which already puts them inside the top-15 cut and assures them of a direct host spot.
For India’s men, the key date is December 31, 2026. As long as India is the top-ranked eligible Asian side on that date, they go straight to Los Angeles without any qualifier.
The Sixth Spot
The last place in each event goes to whoever wins the eight-team qualifier in January–February 2028.
What Changed for the USA Women
This is the bit that has a lot of fans talking. In June, the ICC said that if the USA women missed the ranking target, the fifth spot would go to the highest-ranked non-qualified team from any continent as of March 1, 2027.
That rule has now been changed. According to the ICC’s communication to members, quoted by ESPNcricinfo: “If the host (USA) does not meet the ranking criteria by 31 Dec 2026, that spot is reallocated based on the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 standings (cut-off 1 March 2027).”
The inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy is set to be played in India in February 2027. So that tournament now carries Olympic stakes too, which makes it a lot more interesting for teams like New Zealand, England and others hoping to sneak in.
What It Means for India
For Indian fans, the picture is pretty good. The women’s team is already through. The men need to stay on top in Asia in the T20I rankings until the end of 2026. If they do, neither Indian side will need to play the 2028 qualifier at all.
There’s also a busy 2028 ahead. The same ICC events list shows the Women’s T20 World Cup in Pakistan from September 7 to October 1, 2028, and the 20-team Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from October 12 to November 12, 2028. Add the Olympics in July and it’s a heavy year for players.
If you follow Indian cricket news closely, you might also like my post on Kieron Pollard being named Mumbai Indians head coach for IPL 2027 and my coverage of the India A vs New Zealand A 1st unofficial Test.
Other Dates in the ICC Events List
- World Test Championship final 2029: England, June 8–12, 2029
- Men’s T20 World Cup 2030: Window moved to July–August (originally June), hosted by England, Ireland and Scotland
- Overall, 12 men’s, seven women’s and five Under-19 events (including qualifiers) are now scheduled between the 2027 and 2031 ODI World Cups
These details were also reported by India Today.
Confirmed vs Pending (as of October 24, 2026)
Confirmed: the January–February 2028 window, eight teams per qualifier, the four qualified women’s teams, the Olympic dates (July 12–29, 2028) and the Pomona venue.
Still pending: qualifier venues and exact match dates, the final list of eight teams in each qualifier, the men’s direct qualifiers (decided on December 31, 2026 rankings), and whether the USA women make the top 15.
I’ll update this post once the ICC confirms the hosts and the teams.
FAQs
When are the LA 2028 Olympic cricket qualifiers?
The men’s and women’s qualifiers are scheduled for January and February 2028. Exact dates and venues haven’t been announced yet.
Has India qualified for cricket at the 2028 Olympics?
India’s women’s team has qualified through the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. India’s men will qualify directly if they are the top-ranked eligible Asian team in the T20I rankings on December 31, 2026.
How many teams will play cricket at LA 2028?
Six teams in the men’s event and six in the women’s event, each with a 15-player squad, all playing T20 cricket.
How many teams play in the Olympic qualifier?
Eight per gender: the seven highest-ranked teams that haven’t already qualified, plus the winner of the Caribbean Regional Qualifier. Only the winner goes to the Olympics.
Where will Olympic cricket be played?
All matches will be played at a purpose-built venue at the Fairgrounds (Fairplex) in Pomona, California, about 50 km from downtown Los Angeles.
When is the Olympic cricket gold medal match?
The women’s gold medal match is on July 20, 2028, and the men’s gold medal match is on July 29, 2028 (local time in Los Angeles).