Daijiworld Media Network - Lausanne
Lausanne (Switzerland), Dec 11: The International Olympic Committee has approved the qualification framework for the men’s and women’s hockey competitions at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, marking a key step in preparations for the event.
As has been the case since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, each tournament will feature 12 teams, including automatic qualification for host nation USA. The 11 remaining spots in every category will be filled through a combination of FIH Pro League rankings, continental championships, and dedicated Olympic qualification tournaments, the International Hockey Federation announced.
Under the approved structure, the highest-ranked team across the 2025–26 and 2026–27 FIH Pro League seasons will secure an Olympic berth; if the same team tops both seasons, the 2026–27 runner-up will qualify. Each of the five continental championships will produce one qualifier per gender, provided the winning team has not already earned a berth as the host or via the Pro League. If either condition applies, qualification will pass to the next-best finisher.
The designated continental events include the African Hockey Road to LA28, Pan American Games 2027, Asian Games 2026, EuroHockey Championship 2027, and Oceania Cup 2027. In the Pan American region, if the USA wins the 2027 Games, the runner-up will not automatically qualify; instead, that quota will revert to the Olympic qualification tournaments.
Two qualification tournaments for each gender — four in total — will be staged in early 2028, each featuring eight teams. The top two teams from every tournament will claim the final Olympic slots.
The hockey competitions will be staged at Carson Fields, a venue near downtown Los Angeles that will be upgraded into a world-class facility capable of hosting high-intensity matches and fan experiences.
Hockey has been part of the Olympic programme since 1908. The Netherlands swept the gold medals at Paris 2024, while India remains the most decorated nation in Olympic hockey history with eight gold medals, including six consecutive titles.