One team will be selected from each of the continents: Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania, based on International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings as of December 31, 2026, as decided by the IOC executive board.
Australia and New Zealand will compete for the Oceania spot, while the US will represent the Americas, provided it remains within the top 15 of the ICC rankings.
The sixth team will emerge from a global qualifier among the next eight highest-ranked teams that haven’t qualified yet. This will include the West Indies, a collective ICC member for several Caribbean nations that lacks recognition as a National Olympic Committee by the IOC.
“If the West Indies ranks among the eight highest teams that have yet to qualify, the ICC will organize a West Indies Nations Regional Tournament to determine which NOC will represent the region at the final global Olympic qualifier,” stated the IOC on Monday.
This team will then join seven others—the highest-ranked sides not already qualified—in a global qualifier, with the winner finalizing the six-team lineup at Los Angeles.
Britain’s selection is based on England’s ranking.
The women’s tournament will also consist of six teams. Australia, Britain, South Africa, and India have ensured their places by being the top four continental teams in the current World Cup.
Neither the US nor any team from the Americas is included in the ICC’s top 15. After the Champions Trophy next year, the unused spot for the host country will go to the highest-ranked T20 team outside of the four already secured.
Similar to the men’s selection process, the Caribbean winner will participate in an eight-team global qualifier, with the victor claiming the final place for LA 2028.
