LA28: How will teams qualify?
With Great Britain competing in the 2026 European Sixes Lacrosse Championships in Salou, Spain next month, we’re taking a look at the full qualifying timeline for lacrosse ahead of the LA28 Olympic Games.
After the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved the three-stage journey in February, continental championships have been taking place since September.
20 teams across the men’s and women’s codes have already qualified for next year’s 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships after making it through the Pan-American and Asia-Pacific continental championships that took place in September and October.
The European and African continental championships will be played in November and December with a further 12 teams (10 European teams, two African teams) qualifying for the World Championships.
In Colorado Springs, USA next October, the qualified 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams will compete in the World Championships looking to be one of the best four teams in their respective competition with the USA qualifying for the Olympics as hosts.
The last remaining men’s and women’s slot will be decided at a final qualifiying tournament in early 2028 featuring the top six men’s and six women’s nations not already qualified for the Olympics.
The LA28 lacrosse competition will take place from 24-29 July at Exposition Park Stadium near Downtown Los Angeles.
As announced by World Lacrosse in February, the Olympic qualifying pathway is as follows:
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
2. World Lacrosse Sixes Championships (4-10 October 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.