The First Teams Set to Compete in the 2028 Olympics
Three Baseball Teams Qualify for 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles
In a significant development for the upcoming Olympic Games, three baseball teams have officially secured their spots in the six-team tournament scheduled for Los Angeles in 2028.
The Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and the United States will compete at the iconic Dodger Stadium as part of the LA28 Baseball Tournament. The qualifying event took place during the 2026 World Baseball Classic, marking the first official qualification for baseball in the 2028 Olympics.
Both the Dominican Republic and Venezuela earned their positions as the highest-ranked teams from the Americas. Team USA automatically qualified as the host nation.
In recent matches, the U.S. achieved victory over the Dominican Republic on Monday and is set to face Venezuela, which recently overcame Italy in the World Baseball Classic final.
Baseball returns to the Olympics for the first time since the Tokyo 2020 Games, with the six-team tournament slated for July 13-19, 2028. The remaining three teams will be determined through a series of international tournaments in 2027 and 2028.
As excitement builds, ticket registration for the LA28 Olympics has seen substantial interest, with over 5 million fans from 197 countries already registering since it opened in January. The Olympics Ticket Draw registration remains open through Wednesday, ahead of ticket sales in early April.
The 2028 Olympics will take place in Los Angeles for the third time, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled for July 14, 2028, followed by competitions running until July 30, 2028. The LA28 Paralympic Games will begin on August 15, 2028, and conclude on August 27, 2028.
In-venue celebrations will occur at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium, which will host both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The competition schedule reveals that events like field hockey, basketball, and rugby sevens will commence on July 12, two days prior to the Opening Ceremony.
New features for the 2028 Olympics include an increased number of medal events—totaling 351—compared to Paris 2024. Notable additions will be mixed team events in gymnastics, athletics, and new categories in boxing, soccer, and lacrosse.
As preparations continue, the stage is being set for a historic celebration of sports in Los Angeles.
