ICC confirms LA28 Olympic cricket qualifiers in USA and Bangladesh
Synopsis
Cricket's return to the Olympics just got a date and a venue — two of them. The ICC has confirmed the USA will host the men's LA28 qualifier and Bangladesh the women's, both in early 2028, while also locking in a sweeping events calendar through 2035 that hands India the 2029 Champions Trophy and co-hosting rights for the 2031 World Cup.
Key Takeaways
ICC confirmed the LA28 Olympic cricket qualifier hosts: USA (men, 5–13 February 2028 ) and Bangladesh (women, 26 February – 5 March 2028 ).
Both qualifiers feature eight teams in two groups of four , with 13 matches each; group winners contest the final for the last Olympic berth.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 Global Qualifier will have 16 teams and 31 matches , with eight teams qualifying for the main event in Australia and New Zealand .
India will host the 2029 Men's Champions Trophy ( 9–28 October ) and co-host the 2031 Men's Cricket World Cup with Bangladesh .
England , alongside Ireland and Scotland , will host the 2030 Men's T20 World Cup ( 4 July – 4 August ).
Hosts for events from 2032 to 2035 are yet to be confirmed.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the final qualification berths for cricket's historic return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028 will be decided through two separate eight-team tournaments — the men's qualifier hosted by the USA from 5 to 13 February 2028, and the women's qualifier hosted by Bangladesh from 26 February to 5 March 2028. The ICC Board announced the hosts and dates following its meetings in Bali, Indonesia.
Format and Structure of the Qualifiers
Both qualifying tournaments will feature eight teams divided into two groups of four, with 13 matches in each event. The group winners will advance directly to the final, where the victor will claim the last remaining qualification spot for the LA28 Olympics. The straightforward knockout structure is designed to maximise competitive intensity and minimise dead rubbers.
This comes amid cricket's broader push to cement its status as a global sport following its return to the Olympic programme — an inclusion widely regarded as the most significant milestone for the game since the formation of the ICC's current governance structure.
ICC CEO on the Significance of the Calendar
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta emphasised the strategic weight of the events calendar and qualification framework. 'The ICC events portfolio and schedule are critical components of cricket's global architecture and deliver elevated context, competitiveness and consequence to the ecosystem. These tournaments serve as pinnacle moments for fans and players alike, with the associated pathways driving aspiration and access for the broader cricketing landscape,' Gupta said.
He added: 'We also recognise the importance of providing athletes and member associations long-term visibility of these events to enable development of improved player pathways, focused high-performance programmes and structured calendars.'
T20 World Cup Qualification Pathways Confirmed
The Board also approved the qualification framework for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 Global Qualifier, which will feature 16 teams and 31 matches in the first quarter of 2028. Teams will be split into four groups of four, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. Eight teams will qualify for the main tournament to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 12 October to 12 November 2028.
For the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2028, regional allocations for the Global Qualifier have been confirmed. Netherlands and Scotland, who featured in the 2026 edition but did not secure automatic qualification, will be joined by eight teams from five regional qualifying events in 2027. Africa, Asia, and East Asia-Pacific will each receive two places at the Global Qualifier, while the Americas and Europe will receive one each. The top two teams from the Global Qualifier will claim the remaining spots in the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup.
ICC Men's Events Calendar Through 2035
The ICC Board approved the full schedule for marquee men's events through 2035, providing long-term clarity for cricket's international calendar. Key confirmed fixtures include:
India will host the 2029 Men's Champions Trophy from 9 to 28 October. The 2031 Men's Cricket World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Bangladesh from 9 October to 23 November 2031. England will stage the 2029 World Test Championship Final from 8 to 12 June, as well as the 2030 Men's T20 World Cup from 4 July to 4 August 2030, alongside Ireland and Scotland.
Hosts for the 2032 Men's T20 World Cup, the 2033 World Test Championship Final, the 2033 Champions Trophy, the 2034 Men's T20 World Cup, and the 2035 World Test Championship Final and Men's Cricket World Cup are yet to be confirmed. The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 Qualifier, scheduled for February–March 2027, will feature 10 teams across 23 matches, with the top four progressing to the main tournament.
What This Means for the Game
Notably, the breadth of these decisions — covering Olympic qualification, T20 World Cup pathways, and an events calendar stretching nearly a decade — signals an ICC intent to position cricket as a truly multi-continental sport well beyond its traditional strongholds. With the USA confirmed as a qualifier host ahead of LA28, and India and Bangladesh anchoring the 2031 World Cup hosting rights, both emerging and established cricket markets are receiving structural backing. The ICC's focus on regional representation in qualification pathways also broadens access for Associate Member nations.
All eyes will now turn to the confirmation of hosts for post-2033 events, as well as the draw procedures for the 2027 and 2028 qualifying tournaments.
Point of View
Cricket needs a compelling American narrative, and a competitive tournament on US turf before the Olympics could be the catalyst the sport needs to build a local fanbase. Bangladesh's hosting of the women's qualifier, meanwhile, reinforces the ICC's intent to anchor growth in South Asia even as it courts Western markets. The calendar through 2035 is also notable for what it does not confirm: hosts for five events post-2032 remain open, leaving room for bidding contests that could reshape cricket's geopolitical map. India's back-to-back hosting of the 2029 Champions Trophy and co-hosting of the 2031 World Cup cements its position as the game's commercial and administrative centre of gravity — a concentration of power that critics have long argued crowds out smaller members.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the LA28 Olympic cricket qualifiers be held?
The men's LA28 Olympic cricket qualifier will be held in the USA from 5 to 13 February 2028 , while the women's qualifier will be hosted by Bangladesh from 26 February to 5 March 2028 . Both were confirmed by the ICC Board following its meetings in Bali, Indonesia.
How does the Olympic cricket qualifier format work?
Each qualifier features eight teams split into two groups of four , playing 13 matches in total. The winners of each group advance to the final, with the victor claiming the last available qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics .
Which events will India host according to the new ICC calendar?
India will host the 2029 Men's Champions Trophy from 9 to 28 October 2029 and will co-host the 2031 Men's Cricket World Cup with Bangladesh from 9 October to 23 November 2031 .
What is the format for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 Global Qualifier?
The qualifier will feature 16 teams and 31 matches in the first quarter of 2028 , with teams divided into four groups of four followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. Eight teams will qualify for the main tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Which teams are involved in the Women's T20 World Cup 2028 qualification?
Netherlands and Scotland , who played in the 2026 edition but missed automatic qualification, will join eight teams from five regional qualifying events in 2027. Africa , Asia , and East Asia-Pacific get two places each at the Global Qualifier, while the Americas and Europe get one each, with the top two qualifiers advancing to the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup .
