Cricket will make its long-awaited return to the Olympic Games after 128 years, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirming the qualification system for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The tournament will be played in the fast-paced T20 format, marking a historic milestone for the global growth of the sport.
The ICC announced that both the men’s and women’s competitions will feature six teams, with each nation allowed to name a 15-player squad. A total of 28 matches will be played across the two events, promising an exciting Olympic schedule for cricket fans around the world.
In the women’s competition, Australia, India, Great Britain and South Africa have already secured qualification through the approved criteria. Meanwhile, the highest-ranked teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania will earn direct qualification, while the remaining places will be decided through the ICC Olympic Qualifier in 2027.
For the men’s tournament, qualification will be determined by the ICC Men’s T20 International rankings as of December 31, 2026. Teams that fail to qualify directly will have another opportunity through the ICC Olympic Qualifier in 2027, while the United States must finish among the top 15-ranked teams to secure a place at the Games.
The West Indies have not received automatic qualification because Olympic participation requires representation by individual nations rather than a combined regional team. Instead, the Caribbean representative will be decided through the qualifying tournament, as cricket prepares for its first Olympic appearance since 1900 with renewed global interest.