Bangladesh and the United States will host the final qualifying tournaments for cricket's return to the Olympic Games at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the International Cricket Council announced on Sunday, November 15. The men's qualifier will be held in Bangladesh from February 5 to 13, 2028, while the women's tournament will take place in the USA from February 26 to March 5.
Both competitions will feature eight teams split into two groups of four, with each side playing every opponent in its group once. The two group winners will advance to the final, and the winner of that summit clash will claim the last available Olympic spot. Cricket last featured at the Olympics at the 1900 Paris Games, so its return after a gap of 128 years marks a significant milestone in the sport's global growth, with both men's and women's T20 competitions set to be played in Los Angeles.S1S2
Six nations will compete in each of the men's and women's T20 competitions at the Los Angeles Games, with Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania guaranteed representation. India's women's team has already secured qualification after emerging as the highest-placed Asian side at the Women's T20 World Cup earlier this year, while Australia, South Africa and Great Britain have also booked places through the continental pathway.S1
The men's qualification will be determined by the ICC T20I rankings as of December 31, 2026, with the highest-ranked eligible team from each of the four regions earning direct entry. The Indian men's team is also well placed to make the cut, and the USA, as hosts, will have an opportunity to qualify subject to meeting the ICC's ranking criteria.S1
The ICC also confirmed qualification details for its upcoming global tournaments. The 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier, scheduled for February and March 2027, will feature 10 teams competing in 23 matches, with the top four sides progressing to the World Cup in South Africa. The 2028 Men's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier will feature 16 teams and 31 matches in the first quarter of 2028, with eight teams earning qualification for the tournament hosted by Australia and New Zealand.S1
