Cricket’s Olympic Comeback Begins July 12 at LA 2028 Games

After more than a century-long absence, cricket is set to make its historic return to the Olympic Games at the 2028 Los Angeles edition. The sport, which last featured at the Olympics in 1900, will begin its campaign on July 12, 2028, with matches culminating in the medal rounds on July 20 and July 29.

All games will be played at the purpose-built Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomona, located around 50 kilometers east of downtown Los Angeles. The stadium, officially known as Fairplex, is a 500-acre multi-event venue that has hosted the LA County Fair since 1922 and serves as a hub for sporting events, cultural exhibitions, and public festivals.

A total of 12 teams—six each in men’s and women’s categories—will participate in the T20 format, the most dynamic and spectator-friendly version of the game. Each team is allowed to field a 15-member squad, bringing the total number of participating cricketers to 180.

The Olympic schedule is packed with excitement, as most match days will feature double-headers, starting at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM local time. However, July 14 and July 21 are reserved as rest days with no matches scheduled.

Cricket’s inclusion in the LA28 Olympics is widely regarded as a landmark moment in the sport’s global journey. The 1900 Paris Olympics saw only two teams—Great Britain and France—compete in a single two-day match, with Britain securing the gold. In stark contrast, the 2028 edition promises fast-paced action and global participation, reflecting the sport’s evolution and expanding international reach.

Speaking on the occasion, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming Games and the city’s role in hosting cricket's Olympic revival.

“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,” Bass said in a statement.

“We are already delivering that legacy as we announce 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.”

Cricket’s Olympic debut is part of a broader resurgence on the international stage. Women’s cricket made its Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham in 2022, while both men’s and women’s formats have featured in the Asian Games (2010, 2014, and 2023). Most recently, the USA co-hosted the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup with the West Indies, with matches held in Grand Prairie (Texas), Lauderhill (Florida), and New York, signalling the game’s growing foothold in North America.

The inclusion of cricket in LA28 not only brings the sport to a new audience but also represents a significant step in the Olympics’ strategy to connect with younger and more diverse global fanbases. For cricket, it’s more than a comeback — it’s a reinvention on the world’s grandest sporting stage.

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