COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, USA – The qualification path for lacrosse to the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 is set, with next year’s World Lacrosse Sixes Championships to serve as the primary qualifier for the sport’s return to the Olympic stage.
Following approval of the qualification system by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board on February 1, the three-stage journey to LA28 begins with continental championships set for later this year.
Approximately 100 total teams from around the world are expected to enter the qualification pathway, ultimately resulting in six men’s and six women’s teams earning the right to compete on sport’s biggest stage in 2028.
Serving as the first step in the Olympic pathway, continental championships will take place from September to December 2026. The four championships – African, Asia-Pacific, European and Pan-American – will advance teams to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, featuring parallel competition for the top 16 men’s and top 16 women’s teams.
In addition to the United States – which automatically qualifies as the Olympic host nation if its men’s and women’s teams participate in the continental championships and WLSC – four men’s and four women’s teams will earn their Olympic berths at the WLSC. The site and dates (expected late 2027) for the sixes championships will be announced in the coming months.
The last remaining Olympic slot for each gender will be determined in early 2028 (expected March/April) at a final qualifying tournament, which will feature the top six men’s and women’s teams not already qualified, based on rankings from the WLSC.
The LA28 lacrosse competition will take place July 24-29 at Exposition Park Stadium near Downtown Los Angeles. The registration period for the ticket draw is open through March 18 at LA28.org.
Lacrosse Olympic Qualifying Pathway
1. Continental Championships (September-December 2026)
Approximately 100 teams will enter four regional championships that serve as qualifiers to determine the 16 men’s and women’s teams advancing to the World Lacrosse Sixes Championships.
Continental allocations // Asia-Pacific Lacrosse Union: 5, European Lacrosse Federation: 5, Pan-American Lacrosse Association: 5, African Association of Lacrosse: 1
- Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships // Oshawa, Canada // September 29-October 4
- Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships // Sunshine Coast, Australia // October 5-10
- European Sixes Lacrosse Championships // Salou, Spain // November 2-18
- African Sixes Lacrosse Championships // TBD (expected December)
2. World Lacrosse Sixes Championships (October/November 2027)
Sixteen men’s and women’s teams will compete for the first world titles in sixes lacrosse, with the United States (if participating) and four other teams earning qualification to the Olympics. Teams must finish in the top 12 to be eligible for Olympic qualification, with a minimum of one team and maximum of three teams from any Continental Federation.
The next six eligible teams will advance to the Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
3. Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament (March/April 2028)
Six men’s and women’s teams will compete in a round-robin format with a championship match between the top two finishers to determine the final Olympic qualification place for each.
