The upcoming 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles will welcome five exciting new sports to its programme, namely baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. These sports now reflect the evolving landscape of the sporting industry as it aims to engage new audiences.
While these sports may be unfamiliar to many, studies have shown that the best way to enjoy these sports is to know which nations to look forward to and follow the stories that will unfold all throughout the Games.
To help the fans, Olympics.com has released a guide to discuss the relevant information about these sports–a glimpse of LA28 to help fans have a deeper insight as they anticipate these sporting events.
Baseball/Softball
Baseball and softball will have their comeback to the Olympics at LA28, with baseball played where it first appeared as a demo sport and softball hosted in Oklahoma City.
Japan and the U.S. are the countries that lead in sports. Japan swept gold in Tokyo 2020, and a highlight would be the face-off of star pitcher Shohei Ohtani once again against American rival Mike Trout.
Cuba, South Korea, and the Dominican Republic have been strong in men’s baseball, based on historical records, while Mexico, Venezuela, and European teams are up and rising.
In softball, the U.S. dominates with three Olympic golds and 12 World Cups. Still, Japan is a fierce rival, winning the latest World Cup in 2024. Other competitive nations for this sport include Canada, Chinese Taipei, Italy, China, Australia, and New Zealand.
Indeed, exciting matchups and intense rivalries when these sports return to the Olympic stage can be expected.
Cricket
Cricket will also return to the Olympics at LA28 for the first time. Since 1900, both men’s and women’s tournaments have been played in the fast-paced T20 format.
Top teams for this sport now come from around the world. The 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup champions were awarded to India, and they will challenge England, also known as Team GB, who won back in 2010 and 2022.
Other strong contenders for this sport would be Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Moreover, in women’s cricket, Australia leads with six T20 World Cup titles. New Zealand’s 2024 win and England’s recent achievements make them thrilling opponents as well.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics mark an exciting return for cricket.
Flag Football
Flag football is a fast, non-contact version of American football. It will make its Olympic debut at LA28 in its home country, the United States.
The U.S. leads both men’s and women’s events, having won gold at the 2024 IFAF World Championships and The World Games 2022. A star player would be quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette, who headlines the men’s team.
Mexico is a top rival on the women’s side, defeating the U.S. for gold at The World Games 2022.
Diana Flores, Mexico’s captain, is one to watch out for. She is also an ambassador for the sport.
Countries that aim for the medals include Austria, Japan, Germany, and Canada. Austria’s men won silver in 2024, and Canada’s women regularly finished in the top four.
Flag football’s Olympic debut at LA28 sparks a global rise for this unique American game around the world.
Lacrosse
A sport with deep Indigenous North American roots, Lacrosse comes back to the Olympic scene at LA28 in a faster sixes format.
The U.S. and Canada remain the top teams for this sport. The U.S. dominates traditional field lacrosse with 11 men’s and nine women’s world titles.
However, in the sixes format, Canada made a strong appearance by winning both men’s and women’s gold at The World Games 2022, winning against the U.S. in both finals.
The fierce rivalry of these countries continues, with the women’s teams set to battle once again at The World Games 2025.
Furthermore, Australia, a two-time women’s world champion, and the Haudenosaunee Nationals, representing lacrosse’s Indigenous origins, have also made their mark internationally. England and Japan are consistent competitors as well.
Squash
Squash will debut at the Los Angeles Olympics, and it will mark a historic moment for a sport long popular worldwide but never before part of the Games.
The event will feature men’s and women’s singles, with matches played as best-of-five games to 11 points each.
Egypt dominates in this sport. The country recently won both men’s and women’s titles at the 2024 World Team Championships. Star players to look forward to in the Olympics are Nour El Sherbini, a seven-time women’s world champion, and Ali Farag, who is a multiple men’s world champion. Moreover, El Sherbini’s rivalry with fellow Egyptian Nouran Gohar is a highlight as well.
Peru’s Diego Elias, New Zealand’s Paul Coll, and the USA’s Olivia Weaver are top contenders as well. England remains strong, with players like Mohamed ElShorbagy and Georgina Kennedy.
The squash events at LA28 will be held at the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles. The sport’s inclusion in the Games is seen as a major breakthrough, promising to boost its global profile and inspire new generations of players.