Road to LA28 Olympics confirmed
The qualification pathway for lacrosse’s return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 has now been confirmed, with a clear three-stage process established for nations aiming to secure a place on the sport’s biggest stage.
Following formal approval of the qualification system by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board on 1 February, the pathway to LA28 will commence with continental championships held across four regions.
It is anticipated that approximately 100 men’s and women’s teams from around the world will enter the qualification process, with only six teams per gender ultimately earning the right to compete in Los Angeles in 2028.
The first phase of qualification will see continental championships held between September and December 2026 across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Pan-American region, determining qualification for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, which will feature the top 16 men’s and top 16 women’s teams.
We are proud to host the Asia-Pacific (APLU) continental qualifier in October 2026 on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, marking a significant milestone for the sport in Australia and reinforcing the nation’s growing role in the global lacrosse community.
At the World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, four men’s teams and four women’s teams will qualify directly for LA28. As the host nation, the United States will also secure automatic qualification, provided its teams participate in both the continental championships and the World Sixes event. The venue and dates for the championships, expected to be held in late 2027, will be announced in the coming months.
The final Olympic qualification positions — one per gender — will be decided in early 2028 (anticipated March or April) through a final qualifying tournament. This event will feature the highest-ranked men’s and women’s teams from the World Sixes Championships that have not already qualified.
The LA28 lacrosse competition will take place from 24–29 July 2028 at Exposition Park Stadium, located near Downtown Los Angeles. Registration for the Olympic ticket ballot is currently open via LA28.org and will close on 18 March.
