Cricket will be part of the Olympic Games for the first time since 1900, with the Los Angeles 2028 edition featuring a T20 format tournament for both men and women. The competition is scheduled to begin on July 12, with medal matches planned for July 20 and 29. This marks a major milestone for the sport as it joins the Olympic fold in a modern, fast-paced format.
The matches will be held at Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomona, a temporary venue being constructed around 50 kilometers from downtown Los Angeles. Known officially as Fairplex, the nearly 500-acre site has been home to the LA County Fair since 1922 and frequently hosts concerts, cultural events, and sports competitions.
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Six teams will participate in each of the men’s and women’s categories, with a total of 180 players involved. Each team can include a squad of up to 15 players. Most fixtures will be organized as double-headers, scheduled at 9:00 am and 6:30 pm local time, with no matches taking place on July 14 and July 21. The medal matches will follow the same timing.
Cricket’s inclusion reflects its expanding global appeal. The sport last appeared in the Olympics in 1900, when Great Britain and France played a single two-day match, with Britain winning the gold. Now, after more than a century, cricket returns in a vastly different format tailored to modern audiences.
The move also builds on cricket’s recent exposure in global multi-sport events. Women’s cricket made its debut at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, while both men’s and women’s teams have competed in the Asian Games in 2010, 2014, and 2023.
Cricket’s growing presence in the United States was highlighted during the ICC T20 World Cup last year, which the USA co-hosted with the West Indies. Matches were held in Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York, with the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan taking place at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
“When the world comes here for these Games, we will highlight every neighbourhood as we host a Games for all and work to ensure it leaves a monumental legacy,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement.
“We are already delivering that legacy as we announce that there have been more than one million enrollments in PlayLA. I want to thank LA28 and the International Olympic Committee for making these programs possible and for their continued work to host the greatest Games yet,” the statement added.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass welcomed the announcement, noting the broader impact of the Olympic Games on the city. She highlighted the success of PlayLA, a city initiative that has already seen over one million enrollments, and praised the efforts of LA28 and the International Olympic Committee in delivering a legacy that goes beyond the competition itself.
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