Lacrosse returns to the Olympics in 2028. Here's how Sixes works, how it's different, and why backyard players are ready for it.
Updated: April 2026
Sixes is the compact, fast-paced format of lacrosse created by World Lacrosse for the Olympic Games — 6-v-6 on a smaller field with a shot clock and no specialization.
Updated: February 2026
World Lacrosse published the 2026-2028 Sixes Official Playing Rules (Version 1.0) in February 2026, governing all Sixes competition through the LA 2028 Olympic cycle.
Updated: October 18, 2026
The road to LA 2028 runs through three stages of qualification. Six men's and six women's teams will earn Olympic berths across a global pathway running from September 2026 through April 2028.
Third edition of the Pan-American Lacrosse Association Sixes Cup. Haudenosaunee swept both golds; first international lacrosse tournament held in Puerto Rico.
Recap
Haudenosaunee men defeated Puerto Rico 15-12 in the final (5-0 record, Trey Deere 32 pts); women defeated Puerto Rico 16-9 (second straight PALA Sixes Cup title). Teams: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Haudenosaunee, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico. Neither USA nor Canada fielded teams. The tournament also highlighted the Haudenosaunee Nationals' continued campaign for Olympic inclusion — World Lacrosse stated it is 'fully committed to collaborating with the IOC and other key stakeholders to find creative solutions' for Haudenosaunee participation at LA 2028, while the IOC maintains that only recognized NOCs can enter Olympic teams.
Canada swept both golds. 10 men's teams, 8 women's teams from 3 continental federations. Canada remains top-ranked men's sixes program.
Recap
Men: Canada 16-12 over USA; Haudenosaunee bronze 14-13 over Australia. Women: Canada Red 14-12 over Australia; Canada White bronze 14-8 over Haudenosaunee.
Australia won gold (first AP title since 2007). Top four qualified for 2027 World Men's Championship.
Pro Sixes at the highest level. Proved the Sixes format delivers dramatic, high-scoring pro competition.
Recap
PLL: Carolina Chaos won 24-16 over California Redwoods — Shane Knobloch (30 pts) won Golden Stick. WLL: New York Charging won 18-11 over California Palms — Izzy Scane (6G) and Madison Doucette (16 saves) led the way; Charlotte North won Golden Stick (22 pts). Austin Kaut set PLL Sixes saves record (84 over 5 games). The WLL now launches its inaugural regular season on May 16 in Providence, RI, with four teams playing 8 games plus an All-Star Game (Jul 5, Annapolis) and Championship (Aug 15, Philadelphia).
India won double gold, showcasing the rapid growth of lacrosse in Asia and strengthening emerging federations ahead of Olympic qualifying.
Recap
Men's team beat Iraq 9-2 in the final (their first appearance at the event); women's team beat Pakistan 22-5 for their second consecutive gold after silver in Samarkand. India's program is rooted in Shillong where Bijay Singh Mipun founded the Lacrosse Association of India in 2006. India is now targeting Olympic qualifying through the Asia-Pacific Sixes Championships (Oct 5-10, Sunshine Coast, Australia).
Tier 2 continental event for emerging Asian federations. Results strengthen credentials ahead of the Asia-Pacific Sixes Championships (Oct 5-10), the Olympic qualifier.
Recap
Men's teams: China, Hong Kong China, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia. Women's teams: China, Hong Kong China, Pakistan, Singapore. Malaysia won men's bronze (15-10 over Saudi Arabia) — the country's first-ever Asian lacrosse medal.
Youth Sixes tournament (boys and girls, 2035-Varsity divisions) run by PLL Play. Olympic-style 6v6 format for the next generation. Coincided with PLL Season 8 opening weekend at the same venue.
The world's first national Sixes lacrosse league completed its sixth season. Over 1,100 fans attended; players from 10+ nations participate.
Recap
Forge won the men's title for the third consecutive year with a comeback victory over Rise in the final; Swift won the women's title for the second time, defeating Rise 7-4. The new 'GameChanger' rule — a two-minute period where goals are worth double — added drama throughout the season. Kady Glynn earned Women's Final MVP; Emilie Chandler won back-to-back Goalie MVP awards. Married couple Hannah and Nathan Hunt became the first couple to win both men's and women's titles at The Fly in the same year.
Forge three-peated as men's champions; Swift won women's title. First married couple to win both titles at The Fly in the same year.
Recap
Forge won the men's title for the third consecutive year with a comeback victory over Rise in the final. Swift won the women's title for the second time, defeating Rise 7-4. Kady Glynn dominated the women's tournament and earned Women's Final MVP; Emilie Chandler won back-to-back Goalie MVP awards. Nathan Hunt coached Forge to the men's three-peat; his wife Hannah Hunt won the women's title with Swift. Over 1,100 fans attended the 2025 edition.
French national Sixes championship playoff weekend in Grenoble, part of the growing European Sixes ecosystem ahead of the 2026 European Sixes Championships (Nov 2-18, Salou, Spain) — the Olympic qualifier.
Recap
Les Bouquetins de Grenoble among the competing clubs. The championship was revived three years ago after a nearly decade-long hiatus, originally relaunched by two Isère-region clubs (Les Bouquetins de Grenoble and Les Terres Froides du nord-Isère). Results pending official publication.
Achieve Lacrosse's first-ever XtremeLax SIXES tournament, bringing the Olympic format to youth and high school divisions in Massachusetts. Adds to the growing grassroots Sixes ecosystem alongside the PLL Utah Sixes Classic and The Fly in England.
First time Sixes will be played at the Canadian collegiate varsity level. Significant grassroots milestone building domestic depth in Canada ahead of the Pan-American Sixes Championships (Sept 29-Oct 4, Oshawa) — the first Olympic continental qualifier.
Recap
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) announced lacrosse Sixes as an exploratory sport for the 2026-27 season. Four institutions — Durham College, Humber Polytechnic, Mohawk College, and Fleming College — are participating in the pilot with the goal of making it a full OCAA sport. The announcement was made in advance of National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21). Fleming College specifically highlighted the blend of competitive athletics and Indigenous cultural learning in its program launch. Source: OCAA, Durham College, Fleming College.
Australia won all five scrimmages (86-62 aggregate), providing crucial international competition as Olympic qualifying ramps up. Both nations prepared for their respective continental Sixes Olympic qualifiers.
Recap
British Lacrosse hosted Australia in a special men's international series — five scrimmage games across four days at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre. This was the first GB vs Australia men's international series at Bisham Abbey. Australia confirmed its men's sixes squad on June 23 (Lacrosse Australia). Official Results (laxscene.com): Australia won all five scrimmages, outscoring Great Britain 86-62 on aggregate. Game 1 (Fri, Jul 3): Australia 22, Great Britain 17. Game 2 (Fri, Jul 3): Australia 11, Great Britain 10. Game 3 (Sat, Jul 4): Australia 16, Great Britain 8. Game 4 (Sun, Jul 5): Australia 18, Great Britain 12. Game 5 (Mon, Jul 6): Australia 19, Great Britain 15. GB prepares for the European Sixes Championships (Nov 2-18, Salou, Spain); Australia for the Asia-Pacific Sixes Championships (Oct 5-10, Sunshine Coast).
Final training camp before 22-player roster selection for the Pan-American Men's Championship. Head coach Seth Tierney led over 40 players, including 11 gold medalists from the 2023 World Championship. Five of the last six Tewaaraton winners were in camp.
Inaugural women's Division II world championship. Italy claimed gold, New Zealand bronze. Pathway event for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships — the Olympic qualifying stage for LA 2028.
Recap
Seven emerging programs competed. Mexico (5-0) swept Pool B; New Zealand (5-0) swept Pool A. Korea (4-1) clinched the second Pool A playoff spot; Italy (4-1) earned the second Pool B spot. Semifinals (July 16): Mexico 15, Korea 7 (Sophia Lima 6G/3A); Italy 10, New Zealand 4 (Haley Mario hat trick). Placement Games (July 17): South Africa 7, Switzerland 6; Hong Kong China 11, Latvia 9; Spain 9, Poland 8; Norway 10, Netherlands 9 (Maria Bergum free position shot with 12 seconds left). Final Day (July 18): Gold: Italy 11, Mexico 4 — four different players scored 2+ goals; Stephanie Colson named POTM. Bronze: New Zealand 8, Korea 7 (Brooke Bolstad 5G). 5th: Hong Kong China 9, Spain 8. 7th: Poland def. Latvia. 9th: South Africa 8, Norway 7. 11th: Netherlands 13, Switzerland 8. Awards: MVP — Elise Fawcett (Italy, 13G/13A). All-Tournament Team: Stephanie Colson, Elise Fawcett, Gabriela Chiappetta (Italy); Alexa Lang, Sophia Lima, Natalie Yorba (Mexico); Brooke Bolstad, Sarah Butler, Maya Rutherford (New Zealand); Helen Bae (Korea).
LA28 opened Games-time volunteer applications on July 14 at la28.org, marking two years until the Opening Ceremony. Approximately 60,000 volunteers needed; must be 18+ by January 2028.
Recap
Volunteers must commit to at least 10 shifts during the Games. The application process includes a background check and interview. Lacrosse competition at Exposition Park Stadium (BMO Stadium), July 24-29, 2028. AP News, Olympics.com, NBC Sports, and LAist all covered the launch. The IOC also published a story marking two years to go. Fans can sign up at la28.org/en/volunteer.html.
The premier women's lacrosse world championship — 16 teams, 44 games over 10 days in Tokyo. USA won its 5th consecutive gold (16-4 over Canada), Israel claimed historic bronze (7-4 over Haudenosaunee). Ally Kennedy named MVP. Over 30,000 fans attended. Critical Olympic pathway event for LA 2028 — top finishers feed into the Sixes qualifying pipeline.
Recap
The Nissin Foods 2026 World Lacrosse Women's Championship concluded August 2 in Tokyo after 44 games over 10 days. Gold Medal: USA 16, Canada 4 — USA's 5th consecutive gold (10th overall), extending their winning streak to 36 games dating to 2009. Sam Apuzzo led the final with 3G/2A; Shea Dolce named player of the match (8 saves). Bronze Medal: Israel 7, Haudenosaunee 4 — Israel's first-ever medal at the women's championship; Haudenosaunee's best-ever finish (4th). MVP: Ally Kennedy (USA, 10G/6A/4GB) — her second WL superlative after 2024 Box Championship MVP. World Team: Aurora Cordingley (CAN, A), Chloe Humphrey (USA, A), Jordyn Lipkin (ISR, A), Ally Kennedy (USA, M), Erica Evans (CAN, M), Marie McCool (USA, M), Brooklyn Walker-Welch (CAN, D), Sydney Scales (USA, D), Racheli Levy-Smith (ISR, D), Shea Dolce (USA, GK). Final Standings: 1. USA, 2. Canada, 3. Israel, 4. Haudenosaunee, 5. England, 6. Australia, 7. Japan, 8. Puerto Rico (best-ever), 9. Argentina (up 17 spots from 26th in 2022), 10. Philippines (debut), 11. Ireland, 12. Wales, 13. Czechia, 14. Scotland, 15. Chinese Taipei (first-ever win), 16. Germany. Over 30,000 fans attended across Oi Stadium and Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium. Key tournament storylines: Haudenosaunee reached first-ever women's semifinal (Avery Doran goal with 5 seconds left vs England); Israel upset Australia in quarterfinals; Canada survived Japan in OT (Aurora Cordingley winner); Chinese Taipei earned first-ever championship win. Source: World Lacrosse.
Major new Olympic Sixes tournament co-promoted by PLL, WLL, and NLL — the first collaboration making top men's players from both field and box leagues available for international competition. Sanctioned by World Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse. Played under Olympic Sixes rules, same format as LA28. Replaces the PLL/WLL Championship Series for the next two years leading up to LA28.
Recap
Announced July 29, 2026. Four nations confirmed August 19: USA, Canada, Australia, and the Haudenosaunee Nationals — each fielding men's and women's rosters. Sanctioned by World Lacrosse, played under Olympic Sixes rules. ESPN will televise all games (TV schedule TBD). The St. James, Springfield, VA (Washington D.C. area), Dec. 8-13, 2026. Opens Tuesday Dec. 8 with USA vs Canada and Haudenosaunee vs Australia (men's pool play). Women's pool play starts Wed. Dec. 9: USA vs Australia, Haudenosaunee vs Canada. Paul Rabil: "This field is the story of our sport. It starts with the Haudenosaunee, who gave the game to the world." Mike Rabil: "We're proud to give these four nations a global platform to represent their heritage." Rosters and TV schedule to be announced. Tickets on sale Friday, August 21 at globallacrossegames.com. Source: PLL, Yahoo Sports.
Second edition of the Atlas Cup — a three-day Sixes international showcase featuring men's and women's national teams from the USA, Canada, Haudenosaunee, and Ireland. The U.S. will defend its title on home soil. Originally scheduled for Oct 2-4, the event was rescheduled to Oct 23-25 after the Pan-American Sixes Championships dates were set for Sept 29-Oct 4 in Oshawa. Full schedule announced Aug 26: 12 games across three days. Single-day tickets on sale via USA Lacrosse. Source: USA Lacrosse.
Recap
The Atlas Cup returns to Tierney Field at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Maryland. The inaugural edition (Sept 2025) featured men's and women's national sixes teams from Canada, Haudenosaunee Nationals, Puerto Rico, and the United States. USA women swept to the championship (Chloe Humphrey earned the Titan Award); Canada won the men's title (Jeff Teat, 6G in the 23-18 final, earned the men's Titan Award). The 2026 edition adds Ireland as the fourth nation. The event features fan zones, food trucks, and interactive in-game entertainment. Source: USA Lacrosse.
Inaugural continental qualifier for the 2027 World Lacrosse Men's Championship. Top five teams earned berths to the 16-team 2027 WLMC in Tokyo — which feeds into the Sixes Olympic qualifying pipeline for LA 2028. Canada won gold with a stunning 9-8 comeback over the USA (Alex Simmons game-winner with 20 seconds left). Haudenosaunee claimed bronze (16-9 over Jamaica). All five PALA qualifiers confirmed: Canada (gold), USA (silver), Haudenosaunee (bronze), Jamaica (4th), Puerto Rico (5th, beat Mexico 9-8). Final standings: 1. Canada, 2. USA, 3. Haudenosaunee, 4. Jamaica, 5. Puerto Rico, 6. Mexico, 7. Colombia, 8. USVI, 9. Argentina.
Recap
Day 1 (Aug 18): Haudenosaunee 28, Argentina 1; Canada 19, Mexico 2; Jamaica 22, Colombia 2. Day 2 (Aug 19): Canada 17, Haudenosaunee 5 (Thomson 4G/2A, Hiltz hat trick, Canada 2-0 Pool B); Mexico 19, U.S. Virgin Islands 7 (Peraza 5G, Tinoco 23/29 FO); USA 23, Puerto Rico 5 (Law 5G/2A, Eicher 4G on 5 shots, six US hat tricks, McMeekin + Weirman 26/32 FO). Day 3 (Aug 20): USA def. Jamaica (improved to 2-0, brink of qualification); Haudenosaunee 16, Mexico 6 (Ron John hat trick, Winter Rivera 5 assists, HAU 2-1); USVI 15, Argentina 5 (first-ever WL-sanctioned win, Walter + Bardonille 4G/2A each). Day 4 (Aug 21): Canada 23, USVI 1 (Thomson 6G/2A, Oldman 11/11 FO — Canada qualified for 2027 WLMC); USA mathematically qualified (2-0 Pool A); Puerto Rico 17, Colombia 3 (Yapor 5G, Algarin 11 saves); Mexico 15, Argentina 2 (Tinoco 16/19 FO, Peraza 5 pts). Day 5 (Aug 22): Haudenosaunee 22, USVI 2 (Marquis 6G, Elijah-Brown 3G/3A, Rivera 2G/4A, Watts 18/23 FO — Haudenosaunee qualified for 2027 WLMC); Canada 23, Argentina 0 (Thomson 6G on 9 shots, Canada's first shutout, 48-4 shot advantage — Canada 4-0 Pool B); USA 29, Colombia 2 (Eicher 7G, Kelly 3G/3A, 14 different scorers — USA 3-0 Pool A); Jamaica 13, Puerto Rico 6 (Hiltz 4G, McPeak 16 saves at 73% — Jamaica qualified). Day 6 (Aug 22): Puerto Rico 9, Mexico 8 — Puerto Rico stunned Mexico with a fourth-quarter comeback (three straight goals). Jayden Vega scored the game-tying and game-winning goals (his 7th and 8th of the championship). Chase Jackson 3G; Algarin 12 saves (57% for championship). Colombia 12, USVI 11 (7th place — Sheedy 6G on 6 shots, Kurtzman 2G/2A equalizer, Haas-Lland 22/26 FO; Poli 6G for USVI). Day 7 (Aug 23) — Medal Games: Bronze: Haudenosaunee 16, Jamaica 9 — Jamaica tied it 8-8 after halftime, but the Haudenosaunee pulled away in the second half. Marquis, Rivera, and Elijah-Brown combined for 12 points; VanValkenburgh made six second-half saves (finished championship at 78% save percentage, best among goalies). Hiltz scored 4G for Jamaica (finished as Jamaica's points leader with 11 goals). McPeak made 9 saves (54 total, 57% for championship). Gold: Canada 9, USA 8 — Canada trailed 8-5 entering the fourth quarter but mounted a four-goal comeback. Owen Hiltz and Sam English scored 40 seconds apart to pull within one; Alex Simmons buried a feed from Thomas McConvey to tie it at 8 with 90 seconds left; Jack Oldman won the ensuing face-off (he won all six fourth-quarter face-offs, finished 13/20), and Simmons scored the game-winner on an acrobatic shot fake and dive with 20 seconds remaining (some sources say 10 seconds). Simmons finished with 4G/1A (5 points); Thomson had an assist (finished championship as top scorer: 26 points on 19G/7A in 5 games); Simmons second with 22 points (11G/11A). Josh Yago led USA with 3G/1A; Evan Plunkett added 2G. Anderson Moore made 15 saves at 63% in defeat (finished at 70% for the championship). Eric Law (15 pts) and Chad Palumbo (14 pts) led the U.S. in scoring. Canada won its second straight over the U.S. in men's field (dating to October 2023). Canada's team face-off percentage was 72% for the championship (Oldman 74% individually). Final Standings: 1. Canada (Gold), 2. USA (Silver), 3. Haudenosaunee (Bronze), 4. Jamaica, 5. Puerto Rico, 6. Mexico, 7. Colombia, 8. U.S. Virgin Islands, 9. Argentina. The four non-medal-round teams (Mexico, Colombia, USVI, Argentina) are eligible for the 2027 WLMC Division II in Wroclaw, Poland. Source: World Lacrosse, USA Lacrosse.
First of two training camps before the Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships (Sept 29-Oct 4, Oshawa, Ontario) — the continental qualifier for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championship and the beginning of the Olympic pathway to LA 2028. Head coach Lindsey Munday leads 22 players including 10 gold medalists from the 2026 WLWC team in Tokyo. Munday emphasized goalies as the most important position in sixes and managed workloads for World Games 2025 gold medalists.
Recap
U.S. Women's Sixes National Team head coach Lindsey Munday and assistant Michelle Tumolo ran five days of intense 90-minute sessions at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md. The roster was split into teams with score kept to simulate pressure. First USA caps: Stony Brook's Isabella Caporuscio (chase-down trail check, bar-down shovel shot), Johns Hopkins' Lacey Downey, and Northwestern's Aditi Foster. Three goalies: Jenika Cuocco (NCAA champion, Northwestern), JJ Suriano (IWLCA 2026 national goalie of the year), Taylor Moreno (UNC career saves leader 667, The World Games 2025 gold). Notable absences for rest: Shea Dolce, Sam Apuzzo, Chloe Humphrey, Kenzie Kent, Ellie Masera, Marie McCool, Charlotte North (Achilles recovery), Cassidy Weeks. Three sixes events remain in 2026: Pan-Am Sixes (Sept 29-Oct 4, Oshawa), Atlas Cup (Oct 23-25, Sparks), Lexus Global Lacrosse Games (Dec 8-13, Springfield, VA). Source: USA Lacrosse.
The first continental Sixes championship on the Road to LA28 completed the opening stage of Olympic qualification. The United States swept both gold medals, and the top five teams in each gender advanced to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships — the primary Olympic qualifier.
Recap
Men: United States, Canada, Haudenosaunee, Puerto Rico and Brazil qualified for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships. Women: United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Haudenosaunee and Argentina qualified. The United States won both finals over Canada; the men prevailed 12-11 and the women 15-14.
Australia won men's gold over Japan 14-13; Japan won women's gold over Australia 9-8. The top five teams in each competition qualified for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, the primary Olympic qualifier for LA 2028.
Recap
Men's qualifiers: Australia, Japan, Philippines, China and Chinese Taipei. Women's qualifiers: Japan, Australia, Korea, Philippines and New Zealand. Philippines took men's bronze, beating China 17-9; Korea took women's bronze, beating Philippines 16-11. Chinese Taipei's men secured the final men's place with a 20-18 fifth-place win over Hong Kong, China; New Zealand's women secured the final women's place with a 13-11 win over Chinese Taipei. With Pan-American and Asia-Pacific qualifying complete, 10 of 16 WLSC places per gender are filled. Visit worldlacrosse.sport/events for current schedules, statistics and broadcast details.
Third continental Sixes qualifier — the longest competition window of the four. The top five European nations per gender advance to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships. Great Britain prepared with a July 3-6 international series against Australia.
Recap
World Lacrosse's event hub, published October 16, confirms that the four women's quarterfinal winners qualify for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, with the fifth place awarded through a bracket for the quarterfinal losers. Men's format and schedule remain to be finalized. WL TV will stream the championships; event-pass information is coming soon, and live statistics will be available via Pointbench. Visit worldlacrosse.sport/events for current schedules and broadcast details.
Fourth and final continental Sixes qualifier — and the first-ever African Sixes Championships. The top finisher in each gender advances to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, opening the Olympic pathway for African nations. Hosted by South Africa Lacrosse; full member nations of the Africa Association of Lacrosse are eligible.
First Men's Championship in the new 16-team format where all teams qualified through continental championships. The complete 16-team field was confirmed August 24, 2026: Japan (host), Australia, Canada, Czechia, England, Germany, Haudenosaunee, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, New Zealand, Philippines, Puerto Rico, United States. All 16 appeared in the 2023 San Diego edition. Pools will be drawn in 2027 without a top-seed pool — mirroring the 16-team 2026 WL Women's Championship format. The calendar now turns to continental Sixes championships (Sep-Dec 2026) as the first stage of Olympic qualifying.
Recap
Oi Stadium (which hosted Olympic field hockey in 2021) will host most games; Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium (site of 1964 Olympic football) will host semifinals and medal matches. 11 of 16 spots already secured: 7 from the European Lacrosse Federation (qualified July 2025) and 3 from the Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union (qualified January 2026) plus Japan as host. The remaining 5 spots will be filled by the Pan-American Lacrosse Association championship in Jamaica (August 2026). WL CEO Jim Scherr emphasized that staging consecutive world championships in Tokyo (women's 2026, men's 2027) provides an incredible platform to grow the sport ahead of LA28. Japan has never fallen below a top eight world ranking. Source: World Lacrosse.
The first-ever World Lacrosse Sixes Championships — the primary Olympic qualifier for LA 2028. 32 national teams (16 men's, 16 women's) from all four continental regions compete over seven days. Five of six Olympic places per gender will be secured here. Hosted in Colorado Springs, known as Olympic City USA — home of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, 50+ National Sport Organizations, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum. All matches at Weidner Field (home of the Switchbacks FC) and broadcast globally. Announced August 27, 2026. Source: World Lacrosse.
Recap
World Lacrosse and the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation announced the host on August 27, 2026. World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr: 'As we prepare for lacrosse's return to the Olympic Games in 2028, it is only fitting that the first-ever sixes championships and our primary Olympic qualifier will take place in Olympic City USA. This championship will determine the majority of the Olympic field and will be one of the defining moments in our sport's modern history.' The event represents one of the most significant international sporting competitions ever staged at Weidner Field, which opened in 2021. Source: World Lacrosse, USA Lacrosse.
The last chance to make LA28. The top six ranked teams per gender not already qualified after the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships compete for the final Olympic berth in each gender, completing the six-team men’s and women’s fields for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The International World Games Association confirmed men's and women's sixes lacrosse for The World Games 2029 — the discipline's fourth appearance at the multi-sport event and the second time both genders contest sixes (after Birmingham 2022). With sixes set for LA 2028, Karlsruhe adds another marquee multi-sport stage to the Sixes calendar one year after the Olympics. Competition format, team allocations and qualification pathway will be confirmed at a later date. Approximately 4,000 athletes from more than 100 countries are expected.
Updated: April 2026
Three weeks to build the core Sixes skills. No field required — just your backyard, a wall, and a stick. Designed for the Skill Stick with tennis, wiffle, or foam balls.
Updated: October 18, 2026
This section grows as the Olympics approach. Most recent first.
World Lacrosse published its European Sixes event hub on October 16. The women's championship runs November 2-9 and the men's November 10-18; the top five teams per gender advance to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships. In the women's competition, all four quarterfinal winners qualify, and the quarterfinal losers contest the fifth qualifying place. Men's format and schedule remain to be finalized. Coverage is confirmed on WL TV, with event-pass details coming soon and live statistics via Pointbench. Separately, this guide corrects the African Sixes dates to December 3-5, matching World Lacrosse's current continental-qualifier listing and host announcement; older December 1-4 references in the news archive are superseded. These are world-championship qualifying places, not Olympic berths. Visit worldlacrosse.sport/events for current schedules and broadcast details.
World Lacrosse confirmed the completed Asia-Pacific Sixes Championships, October 5-10. <strong>Australia's men</strong> beat Japan 14-13 for gold; <strong>Japan's women</strong> beat Australia 9-8. The five men's qualifiers for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships are Australia, Japan, Philippines, China and Chinese Taipei; the five women's qualifiers are Japan, Australia, Korea, Philippines and New Zealand. Together with the Pan-American results, <strong>10 of 16 WLSC places per gender</strong> are now filled. The remaining six places per gender will be decided at the European and African Sixes Championships. These are WLSC berths, not Olympic berths: the 2027 WLSC is the primary qualifier for LA 2028. Visit worldlacrosse.sport/events for current schedules, statistics and broadcast details.
The opening continental stage of the Road to LA28 is complete. The United States won both Pan-American Sixes gold medals over Canada, while the top five teams in each gender secured places at the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships: <strong>men</strong> — United States, Canada, Haudenosaunee, Puerto Rico and Brazil; <strong>women</strong> — United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Haudenosaunee and Argentina. The Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships begin October 5 with 21 teams competing for the next 10 WLSC places. World Lacrosse identifies the 2027 WLSC as the primary Olympic qualifier; visit worldlacrosse.sport/events for current schedules, statistics and broadcast details.
World Lacrosse's September 15 schedule-and-pools announcement remains the newest in-scope development after a fresh review of its news feed, Olympics page, events listings, continental-qualifier page, USA Lacrosse national-team coverage, and Google News. The confirmed Pan-American and Asia-Pacific championships remain the first two steps in the continental stage, with the top five teams per gender at each advancing to the 16-team 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships — the primary Olympic qualifier. Both events are set to stream on WL TV; visit worldlacrosse.sport/events for current schedules and event-pass details. The Pan-American Sixes Championships open the Road to LA28 on September 29, 13 days away.
World Lacrosse today confirmed the schedules and group pools for the 2026 Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships (September 29–October 4, Oshawa, Canada) and the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships (October 5–10, Sunshine Coast, Australia) — the first two of four continental qualifiers feeding the 16-team field at the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, the primary qualifier for LA 2028. The top five teams per gender at both events will advance to the WLSC. Men's Pan-American pools: Pool A — Chile, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, United States; Pool B — Brazil, Canada, Haudenosaunee, Mexico. Women's Pan-American pools: Pool A — Argentina, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, United States; Pool B — Brazil, Canada, Haudenosaunee, Jamaica, Mexico. Both championships will stream on WL TV, with event pass information coming soon; full game-by-game schedules are available at worldlacrosse.sport/events. The Pan-American Sixes Championships open Olympic qualifying in 14 days.
Daily check of World Lacrosse news, the Olympics page, the continental-qualifier listings, and Google News found no new Olympic or Sixes developments since the Karlsruhe confirmation (The World Games 2029 will feature men's and women's sixes in Karlsruhe, Germany). The most recent World Lacrosse article remains the September 3 sixes confirmation. The countdown continues: the inaugural Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships open the Road to LA28 on September 29 — 15 days out — in Oshawa, Canada, with tickets available via Lacrosse Canada at lacrosse.ca and five qualification slots per gender toward LA 2028 on the line. All four 2026 continental Sixes qualifiers remain on schedule as verified against World Lacrosse's official continental-qualifiers page: Pan-American (Oshawa, Canada, September 29–October 4), Asia-Pacific (Sunshine Coast, Australia, October 5–10), European (Salou, Spain, November 2–18), and African (Johannesburg, South Africa, December 1–4).
Daily check of World Lacrosse news, the Olympics page, the continental-qualifier listings, and Google News found no new Olympic or Sixes developments since the Karlsruhe confirmation (The World Games 2029 will feature men's and women's sixes in Karlsruhe, Germany). The most recent World Lacrosse article remains the September 3 sixes confirmation. One fan-facing milestone this week: tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships, September 29–October 4 in Oshawa, Canada — available via Lacrosse Canada at lacrosse.ca. The championships open the Road to LA28 in 16 days and will award five qualification slots per gender toward LA 2028. All four 2026 continental Sixes qualifiers remain on schedule as verified against World Lacrosse's official continental-qualifiers page: Pan-American (Oshawa, Canada, September 29–October 4), Asia-Pacific (Sunshine Coast, Australia, October 5–10), European (Salou, Spain, November 2–18), and African (Johannesburg, South Africa, December 1–4).
Daily check of World Lacrosse news, the Olympics page, the continental-qualifier listings, and Google News found no new Olympic or Sixes developments since the Karlsruhe confirmation (The World Games 2029 will feature men's and women's sixes in Karlsruhe, Germany). The most recent World Lacrosse article remains the September 3 sixes confirmation, and all four 2026 continental Sixes qualifiers remain on schedule as verified against World Lacrosse's official continental-qualifiers page: Pan-American (Oshawa, Canada, September 29–October 4), Asia-Pacific (Sunshine Coast, Australia, October 5–10), European (Salou, Spain, November 2–18), and African (Johannesburg, South Africa, December 1–4). The inaugural Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships open the Road to LA28 on September 29 — 17 days out — and will award five qualification slots per gender toward LA 2028.
No new Olympic or Sixes developments today. World Lacrosse's news feed, events page, and continental qualifiers page are unchanged since the Karlsruhe confirmation (The World Games 2029). All four 2026 continental Sixes qualifiers remain confirmed: Pan-American Sixes in Oshawa, Canada (September 29 – October 4, five spots per gender at the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships); Asia-Pacific Sixes on Australia's Sunshine Coast (October 5-10, five spots per gender); European Sixes in Salou, Spain (November 2-18, five spots per gender); and African Sixes in Johannesburg, South Africa (December 1-4, one spot per gender). The next milestone on the Road to LA28 is the inaugural Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships — just 19 days away.
Daily check of World Lacrosse news, the Olympics page, the continental-qualifier listings, USA Lacrosse national team coverage, and Google News found no new Olympic or Sixes developments since the Karlsruhe confirmation (The World Games 2029 will feature men's and women's sixes in Karlsruhe, Germany). The most recent World Lacrosse article remains the September 3 sixes confirmation, and all four 2026 continental Sixes qualifiers remain on schedule as verified against World Lacrosse's official continental-qualifiers page: Pan-American (Oshawa, Canada, September 29–October 4), Asia-Pacific (Sunshine Coast, Australia, October 5–10), European (Salou, Spain, November 2–18), and African (Johannesburg, South Africa, December 1–4). The inaugural Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships open the Road to LA28 on September 29 — 20 days out — and will award five qualification slots per gender toward LA 2028.
Daily check of World Lacrosse news, the Olympics page, the continental-qualifier listings, USA Lacrosse national team coverage, and Google News found no new Olympic or Sixes developments since the Karlsruhe confirmation (The World Games 2029 will feature men's and women's sixes in Karlsruhe, Germany). The most recent World Lacrosse article remains the September 3 sixes confirmation, and all four 2026 continental Sixes qualifiers remain on schedule as verified against World Lacrosse's official continental-qualifiers page: Pan-American (Oshawa, Canada, September 29–October 4), Asia-Pacific (Sunshine Coast, Australia, October 5–10), European (Salou, Spain, November 2–18), and African (Johannesburg, South Africa, December 1–4). The inaugural Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships open the Road to LA28 on September 29 — 21 days out — and will award five qualification slots per gender toward LA 2028.
Verified weekly against World Lacrosse official sources. Pan-American and Asia-Pacific qualifying are complete: 10 of 16 places per gender at the 2027 WLSC are filled. Next continental qualifier: European Sixes — women November 2-9, men November 10-18 — followed by African Sixes, December 3-5 (correcting older dates in the news archive). Europe awards five WLSC places per gender and Africa one. WLSC qualification is not an Olympic berth. See worldlacrosse.sport/events for current schedules, statistics and broadcast details.
Make your picks and track tournament brackets live with our interactive bracket predictor tool.
Olympic Sixes Bracket + PicksUpdated: September 3, 2026
When does lacrosse return to the Olympics?
Lacrosse returns to the Olympic Games at LA 2028 in Los Angeles. The IOC confirmed lacrosse's inclusion in October 2023. It will be the first Olympic lacrosse competition since 1908 for men and the first-ever Olympic women's lacrosse competition. Six men's and six women's teams will compete in the Sixes format.
What is the Sixes format?
Sixes is a compact 6-v-6 lacrosse format on a 70m x 36m field with 30-second shot clock, 8-minute quarters, and no specialization. It was created by World Lacrosse specifically for the Olympics to be fast, TV-friendly, and accessible. All field players use short sticks (no long poles).
How do teams qualify for LA 2028?
Qualification runs through three stages: (1) Continental Sixes Championships in late 2026 (Pan-American in Oshawa, Asia-Pacific in Sunshine Coast, European in Salou, African in Johannesburg), (2) World Lacrosse Sixes Championships October 4-10, 2027 in Colorado Springs — the primary qualifier where five of six Olympic spots per gender are decided, and (3) a Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament in early 2028. Six men's and six women's teams earn Olympic berths. The U.S. as host nation receives an automatic berth if it participates in qualifying.
Will the Haudenosaunee Nationals compete in the Olympics?
The Haudenosaunee Nationals' Olympic participation remains unresolved. World Lacrosse has stated it is 'fully committed to collaborating with the IOC and other key stakeholders to find creative solutions' for Haudenosaunee participation at LA 2028.
Where will Olympic lacrosse be played in LA?
Lacrosse competition will be held at Exposition Park Stadium (BMO Stadium) in Los Angeles, July 24-29, 2028. The venue is part of the Exposition Park sports complex in downtown LA.
Can I volunteer for the LA 2028 Olympics?
Yes. LA28 officially opened Games-time volunteer applications on July 14, 2026, at la28.org. Approximately 60,000 volunteers are needed for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Volunteers must be 18 or older by January 2028 and commit to at least 10 shifts during the Games.
What rules govern Sixes lacrosse?
World Lacrosse published the 2026-2028 Sixes Official Playing Rules (Version 1.0) in February 2026. These rules govern all Sixes competition through the LA 2028 Olympic cycle. Key features: 6v6, 8-minute running quarters, 30-second shot clock, no offside, short sticks only, goalkeeper restarts after goals.
How is Sixes different from regular lacrosse?
Sixes is faster and more compact: smaller field, fewer players, no specialization (everyone plays both ends), no long poles, shot clock on every possession, and quick goalkeeper restarts after goals instead of face-offs. The format was designed for TV and new audiences — games last about 32 minutes total.
What is the Pan-American Men's Lacrosse Championship?
The inaugural 2026 Pan-American Men's Lacrosse Championship (August 16-23, Kingston, Jamaica) was the first continental qualifier for the 2027 World Men's Championship. Top five teams earned berths to the 16-team 2027 WLMC in Tokyo. Canada won gold with a stunning 9-8 comeback over the USA (Alex Simmons game-winner with 20 seconds left). Haudenosaunee claimed bronze (16-9 over Jamaica). Final standings: 1. Canada, 2. USA, 3. Haudenosaunee, 4. Jamaica, 5. Puerto Rico, 6. Mexico, 7. Colombia, 8. U.S. Virgin Islands, 9. Argentina. The five PALA qualifiers join 11 teams already confirmed for the 2027 WLMC: Japan (host), Czechia, England, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia (European qualifiers), and Australia, New Zealand, Philippines (Asia-Pacific qualifiers). The 2027 WLMC feeds into the Sixes Olympic qualifying pipeline for LA 2028.
Will Sixes lacrosse be at The World Games 2029?
Yes. The International World Games Association confirmed men's and women's sixes lacrosse for The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe, Germany (July 19-29, 2029) — the fourth time lacrosse appears at the event and the second dual-gender sixes edition after Birmingham 2022. With Sixes also set for the LA 2028 Olympics, Karlsruhe gives the format another global multi-sport stage one year after the Games. Competition format and qualification details will be announced later.
Sixes lacrosse is built for speed, skill, and small spaces. The Skill Stick is built for the same. Train with tennis, wiffle, or foam balls in your backyard and master the quick-release shooting, off-hand skills, and ground ball aggression that Sixes demands. No field required.
Shop the Skill StickLast updated: 2026-04-19 · v1.0