LA 2028 Cricket Overview

LA 2028 cricket marks the sport’s return to the Olympic Games for the first time since Paris 1900 — a 128-year absence. It is played in the Twenty20 (T20) format, the shortest and most television-friendly version of the game, at a purpose-built cricket stadium at the Fairplex fairgrounds in Pomona, California. The addition is one of the most globally significant on the 2028 program.

Both the men’s and women’s tournaments feature six teams. The IOC has been explicit that cricket’s inclusion is aimed at engaging the enormous global audience for the sport, particularly across South Asia, and at tapping into the massive digital followings of the game’s biggest stars. For a US-hosted Games, cricket also builds on the growing American infrastructure demonstrated by the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted in the United States.

Format & Sessions

Cricket at LA 2028 is played in the T20 format, in which each side bats for a maximum of 20 overs. A full match lasts around three hours — a compact, high-scoring spectacle designed for a broad audience. Both the men’s and women’s tournaments feature six teams, moving from a group phase into knockout medal matches.

LA 2028 Cricket Venue: Fairplex, Pomona

Cricket at the 2028 Summer Games is held at a purpose-built, temporary cricket stadium at the Fairplex fairgrounds in Pomona, California, roughly 30 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles. The Fairplex is a large events complex best known as the home of the LA County Fair, and its open grounds allow a full-size cricket stadium to be constructed for the Games. For official Games information see the official LA28 organizing committee, and for the sport’s global body see the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Getting to Pomona

Pomona sits in the eastern part of Los Angeles County, roughly 30 miles from Downtown LA — around 40 to 50 minutes by car depending on traffic. Because it is east of the main venue clusters, groups attending cricket may prefer to base themselves closer to the San Gabriel Valley or plan for the drive from a Downtown hotel. The Fairplex has substantial on-site parking given its fairgrounds heritage.

Cricket at the Olympics: History

Cricket has appeared at the Olympic Games only once before — at Paris 1900 — when a single match was contested between teams representing Great Britain and France. Great Britain won, and the sport did not return to the program for more than a century. Its 2028 inclusion is therefore a genuine revival rather than a continuation.

The decision to bring cricket back reflects the sport’s enormous global reach, especially the T20 format’s explosive growth since the mid-2000s. The IOC and LA28 pointed specifically to cricket’s massive following across South Asia and the digital reach of its leading players as central to the decision. The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted in the United States and the Caribbean, demonstrated that American venues and audiences could support top-level international cricket.

Leading Nations Entering 2028

India, Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, and the West Indies are among the sport’s traditional powers, alongside emerging forces in the shorter formats. The six-team tournament structure means qualification will be highly competitive, and the specific qualifying pathway is being finalized by the sport’s international federation. The women’s game has grown rapidly, and nations including Australia, India, and England field world-class women’s T20 sides.

What to Expect at LA 2028

LA 2028 cricket is expected to draw some of the largest and most passionate traveling supporter groups of the entire Games. The sport’s global fanbase — numbering in the billions across South Asia, Australia, England, and the Caribbean — has no equal among the new 2028 additions in terms of sheer scale of following.

The Field

With only six teams per tournament, qualification will be fiercely contested among the world’s leading cricket nations. The exact qualifying process is being determined by the international federation. Any group-stage fixture between major rivals — India and Pakistan foremost among them — would rank among the most sought-after tickets not just in cricket but across the whole 2028 program.

US Context

Cricket is a fast-growing sport in the United States, with a large diaspora fanbase and increasing domestic infrastructure. The 2024 T20 World Cup co-hosting was a milestone, and the sport’s Olympic appearance in Los Angeles is expected to accelerate its American growth. For the substantial South Asian communities across Southern California, the tournament is a landmark home event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Sports at LA 2028

Cricket is one of five new sports on the 2028 program. Individual sport guides for LA 2028 are listed below.