By Zainab Shafiq 
In a move that has stirred fresh excitement across the cricketing world, LA28 cricket schedule details were unveiled three years ahead of the much-anticipated Los Angeles Olympic Games. Unlike many other sports, cricket will step into the Olympic spotlight before the official start of the Games. According to organisers, matches will begin on July 12, 2028, two days prior to the official curtain-raiser on July 14. This early kick-off is part of what LA28 has dubbed its “Minus 2” and “Minus 1” days.
This marks a historic return for cricket, which last appeared at the Olympics in 1900, and the LA28 cricket schedule has been strategically spread across two waves, the first from July 12 to 18, with medal matches on July 19, and the second from July 22 to 28, concluding with the final on July 29. The overall Games end on July 30.
Both the men’s and women’s events will feature six teams each, with matches held at a purpose-built Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, about an hour’s drive from downtown LA. Though the order of the men’s and women’s fixtures remains undisclosed, a more detailed breakdown is expected by year’s end.
LA28 Cricket Schedule: Why This Early Start Matters
The early launch of cricket at LA28 isn’t just logistical; it’s symbolic. Cricket’s Olympic return has been over a century in the making, and organisers are making space, quite literally, for it to shine without overshadowing or being overshadowed by bigger Olympic sports. The LA28 cricket schedule is also a nod to the growing footprint of cricket, especially with a vast South Asian diaspora and an increasing appetite for the sport in the US.
The ICC, meanwhile, will convene in Singapore from July 17 to 20 to finalise the qualification criteria. Although ICC rankings are likely to determine the competing nations, there have been calls for a standalone qualifier, a proposal that may face resistance due to the already packed Future Tours Programme.
Himadullah Sohoo 
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