Cricket dates and start times revealed for Los Angeles Olympics as the sport returns to the Games for the first time in 128 years
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Published 16/07/2025 at 11:24 GMT+1
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Dates and start times have been revealed for cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, as the sport features for the first time in 128 years. The first ball will be bowled before the opening ceremony gets underway and fans will face an early start for some matches. Cricket's inclusion for 2028 has previously been described as a "win-win" by the IOC's former president.
Spectacular moment Olympic rings illuminate Eiffel Tower at Opening Ceremony
Video credit: TNT Sports
Cricket will return to the Olympics for the first time in 128 years when Los Angeles hosts the Games in 2028.
Men’s and women’s T20 competitions have been confirmed, with six teams set to compete in each gender. Participating nations will be allowed to field a squad of 15 players, meaning an overall athlete quota of 180.
And the time when matches are played in LA will cater for television audiences in India.
The sport has only ever featured once in the Olympics, back at Paris 1900.
Its inclusion for LA has previously been described as a "win-win" by Thomas Bach, the former president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"We see the growing popularity of cricket, particularly the T20 format," he said.
"The Olympic Games will give cricket a global stage and the opportunity to grow beyond the traditional cricket countries and regions.
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"And for the Olympic Movement, it’s the opportunity to engage with fan and athlete communities to which so far we have very little or even no access."
The Games may still be three years away, but anticipation for LA is already building.
Now, the official dates and times have been confirmed for cricket’s iconic return to the Olympic stage.
What dates will cricket be played at LA 2028?
The first ball will be bowled on Wednesday, July 12 - two days before the opening ceremony.
The IOC has confirmed that matches will run for two-and-a-half weeks, except on Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 21.
The women’s medal matches will be held on Thursday, July 20, before finishing with the men’s finals on Saturday, July 29.
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Paris hands Olympic flag over to Los Angeles for 2028 Games
Video credit: TNT Sports
What times will cricket be played at LA 2028?
Games are set to get underway at 9am and 6:30pm local time. We know that most of the matchdays will be double headers.
This means the matches will be at 9.30pm and 7am in India, a huge market for cricket.
Where will cricket be played at LA 2028?
A temporary, purpose-built venue has been constructed for cricket matches at the LA 2028 Olympics.
It is at the Fairgrounds in Pamona - a near 500-acre complex which is about 50 kilometres from Los Angeles. It’s officially known as Fairplex and has previously hosted concerts, trade shows and sporting events.
Cricket is one of five new sports added for 2028, along with baseball/softball, flag football, squash and lacrosse.
Back in May, early details were also released about the opening ceremony for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
It is going to be split across two stadiums for the first time ever, making use of both the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium.
"The venues selected for the 2028 opening and closing ceremonies will highlight Los Angeles’ rich sporting history and cutting-edge future, showcasing the very best that LA has to offer on the world stage," said LA28 chair, Casey Wasserman.
"These two extraordinary venues will create an unforgettable experience, welcoming fans from across the globe to an Olympic and Paralympic Games like never before and concluding what will go down as one of the most incredible Games in history."
No details have been confirmed yet about who will be performing at the opening ceremony.
The Games will run from July 14–30 in the summer of 2028, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Relive every moment of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on discovery+
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