10 more nations qualify for world Olympic qualifier

10 more nations secured their place at next year’s 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championship, the final stage in qualifying for the LA28 Olympic Games, after claiming a top five spot at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championship in Australia over the weekend.

In the men’s competition, Australia came out on top after a tight one-goal victory over Japan in the gold medal match with Phillippines claiming bronze against China and Chinese Taipei finishing fifth.

Over in the women’s tournament, Japan took top spot after an 9-8 win over Australia, Korea, led by Head Coach and former England Box Lacrosse Women’s Assistant Coach Jane Lee-Whitehead, finished third after beating Phillippines in the bronze medal match, and New Zealand finished in fifth.

Those 10 Asia-Pacific nations will join the 10 qualified Pan-American countries at the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championship in Colorado Springs, USA from 4-10 October next year.

Two more continental qualifiers remain with the European Championships, featuring Great Britain, in Spain in November and the African Championships in South Africa in December.

Five men’s and five women’s teams will qualify for the World Sixes Championships from the European qualifiers with one men’s and one women’s team progressing from the African Championships.

Asia-Pacific Sixes Championships Final Standings

Men

1. Australia

2. Japan

3. Phillippines

4. China

5. Chinese Taipei

Women

1. Japan

2. Australia

3. Korea

4. Phillippines

5. New Zealand