The qualification system for cricket at LA Olympics 2028 is finally out and Indian fans should be a happy lot. As per the IOC-approved system, after recommendation by the ICC, 6 teams each will participate in the men’s and the women’s competition at the LA28. Out of that, one place each will be reserved for the host nation (conditions apply). Four quotas will be handed out to the best-ranked team in a continent (India best in both men’s and women’s), which would help India participate in both the events.
Total Quotas at LA Olympics 2028
- Men’s Quotas – 4 (through continental rankings) + 1 Host + 1 qualifier
- Women’s Quotas – 4 (through continental rankings) + 1 Host + 1 qualifier
- Squad strength – 15 each
- Total athletes – 90 + 90
LA28 cricket qualification pathway
As per a release, “A total of four quota places will be allocated. These will be allocated to the highest -ranked eligible NOCs continent ally (i.e. the top ranked NOC s from different continents), taken from the ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings, resulting in four teams in total. Each eligible team will obtain one quota place for its NOC.
Qualifiers for Los Angeles Olympics
The teams that do not qualify as per their rankings (no. 1 in continent); the next highest 8-ranked teams will participate in the qualifiers, known as the Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament (FOGQT). The team that wins this tournament, will get a chance to play at LA28. Of course, this will be for men’s and women’s both.
Indian women’s cricket team already qualified
The Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has finalised a few members of the LA28, cricket competition. Australia, Great Britain, India and South Africa go through by virtue of being the highest-placed teams from Oceania, Europe, Asia, and Africa. That brushes aside India’s disappointment of being ousted from the World Cup early.
Qualification timeline for LA Olympics
| Period | Date | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | 12 June – 6 July | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Qualification | 30 June 2026 31 December 2026 | Host nation minimum qualification criteria requirement window opens Men’s Olympic qualification ranking window closes |
| Qualification | 1 March 2027 | Women’s window closes |
| Information & confirmation | — | The ICC to inform NOCs/NFs |
| Qualification | Date TBC | FOGQT for women |
| Qualification | Date TBC | FOGQT for men |
| Information & confirmation | Immediately after event Two weeks later 26 May 2028 | The ICC to inform NOCs/NFs of allocated quota NOCs to confirm participation ICC allocate unused quota |
| Games time | 26 June 2028 14 July to 30 July | Deadline for entries LA28 Olympics |
*Host nation, USAs qualification is not confirmed. They are only eligible to qualify as hosts for both Men’s and Women’s events, subject to appearing in the top 15 of the relevant ICC T20I rankings at any time during the qualification period from 30 June 2026 to 31 December 2026.
