Cricket qualification system approved for LA28

Each International Federation (IF) is responsible for establishing its sports rules for participation in the Olympic Games, including qualification criteria, in accordance with the Olympic Charter. Such criteria must be submitted to the IOC EB for approval. All qualification systems have been developed in accordance with the Qualification System Principles (QSP) approved by the IOC EB in March 2025.

Cricket will make its long-awaited return to the Olympic Games at LA28, 128 years after its only previous appearance at Paris 1900. The competition will feature separate men's and women's T20 tournaments, each contested by six teams of up to 15 athletes, with 90 quota places allocated per gender. A total of 28 matches will be played across the two competitions.

Click here to view all the approved qualification systems for LA28.

This latest approval follows the endorsement of qualification systems for 49 sports and disciplines since December 2025, and the most recent approvals for boxing and water polo in May 2026. The only remaining qualification systems to be confirmed for the LA28 Olympic Games – athletics and football – are expected to be published within the coming days.

Updates to the surfing qualification system

The IOC Executive Board also approved updates to the LA28 surfing qualification system, maintaining the overall quota while refining the distribution of places across events organised by the International Surfing Association (ISA), the IOC-recognised International Federation for surfing, and the World Surf League (WSL) professional tour. The adjustments reinforce a balanced approach that supports both the participation of the best athletes and broad universality pathways to the Olympic Games.

The updates see an increase in places through the WSL professional tour to eight men and eight women, alongside a clearer and more structured role for the ISA pathway, maintaining a balance between performance and universality.

The timeline within the qualification framework is maintained (2026-2028) and sees further refinement to sequencing and hierarchy across events leading to the final allocation.

The LA28 qualification systems are designed to provide athletes with multiple opportunities to qualify for the Olympic Games, ensure broad continental and universal representation, minimise travel demands on athletes and teams, and provide National Olympic Committees (NOCs), athletes and entourage members with greater certainty and more time to prepare for participation at LA28.

Fans looking to be part of the action can sign up for the next LA28 ticketing drop – taking place in August – via the official LA28 website, with registration open until 22 July 2026 for those who have not yet signed up.

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