ICC T20 World Cup Looks to Grow U.S. Fanbase Ahead of LA 2028 Olympics

As the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup approaches, the governing body hopes that the event will serve as a platform to showcase cricket to American sports fans ahead of its return to the Olympic schedule.

Cricket is one five new sports set to feature at LA 2028, having not featured on the Olympic schedule since 1900. The T20 format, known for its fast-paced and spectator-friendly nature, is seen as particularly well-suited for Olympic competition.

Scheduled from June 1-29, the tournament will be the first major cricket event staged in the United States, with the ICC hoping the event will bolster bolster cricket’s visibility and appeal to American sports fans.

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, a temporary 34,000 set stadium, is now under construction at Einsenhower Park, featuring a drop-in cricket pitch. The pitch has been constructed under the watch of Stadium Manager, Damian Hough, the Head Curator of Australia’s Adelaide Oval. Among its eight scheduled World Cup matches, the hotly anticipated India-Pakistan clash will take place at the stadium on June 9.

While the stadium will be dismantled after the tournament, the ICC hopes that legacy of world-class cricket with live on in the United States.