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: September 3, 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 faceoff (he won all six fourth-quarter faceoffs, 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.
First of four continental Sixes championships on the Road to LA28 and the opening stage of Olympic qualification. The top five Pan-American nations per gender advance to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships in Colorado Springs — the primary Olympic qualifier. For the United States, participation in the Pan-American championships (along with the WLSC) is required to activate its automatic host-nation berth at LA28.
Second continental Sixes qualifier on the Olympic pathway, hosted by Australia one week after the Pan-American championship. The top five Asia-Pacific nations per gender advance to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships. Australia confirmed its men’s Sixes squad in June 2026.
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.
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: September 8, 2026
This section grows as the Olympics approach. Most recent first.
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.
Daily check of World Lacrosse news, the Olympics page, and continental-qualifier listings 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 Google News surfaced no new in-scope coverage. 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 — 22 days out — and will award five qualification slots per gender toward LA 2028.
Daily verification checkpoint: World Lacrosse's official continental-qualifiers page confirms all four 2026 Sixes championships are unchanged — Pan-American Sixes (Oshawa, Canada, September 29–October 4, five spots per gender at the 2027 WLSC), Asia-Pacific Sixes (Sunshine Coast, Australia, October 5–10, five per gender), European Sixes (Salou, Spain, November 2–18, five per gender), and African Sixes (Johannesburg, South Africa, December 1–4, one per gender). The Pan-American Sixes Championships also now has an official event page on Olympics.com, a sign of growing mainstream Olympic coverage on the road to LA28. No team lists, draws or schedule details have been published yet; competition schedule will live at worldlacrosse.sport/events. The Pan-American event opens Olympic qualifying in 23 days.
The International World Games Association has confirmed that men's and women's sixes lacrosse will be contested at The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe, Germany (July 19-29, 2029). It marks lacrosse's fourth appearance at The World Games and the second time both men's and women's sixes are contested, after the discipline debuted at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham and women's sixes returned at TWG 2025 in Chengdu. With sixes set for the LA 2028 Olympics, World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr called Karlsruhe "another world-class multi-sport stage" for member nations. Competition format, team allocations and the qualification pathway will be confirmed at a later date. The next Olympic Sixes event remains the Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships in Oshawa beginning September 29 — 26 days out — where the top five nations per gender qualify for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships in Colorado Springs. Schedules at worldlacrosse.sport/events.
With 28 days until the Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships open in Oshawa (September 29), the guide’s qualification timeline now includes all four 2026 continental qualifiers, verified against World Lacrosse’s official Olympic pathway: Pan-American (Oshawa, Canada, Sept 29-Oct 4), Asia-Pacific (Sunshine Coast, Australia, Oct 5-10), European (Salou, Spain, Nov 2-18), and African (Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec 1-4). The top 16 nations per gender — five each from the Pan-American, Asia-Pacific and European championships, one from Africa — advance to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships in Colorado Springs, the primary Olympic qualifier for LA28. The Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament in early 2028 completes the six-team fields. No new World Lacrosse announcements today; the next Olympic Sixes event on the calendar is the Pan-American Sixes Championships beginning September 29. Current schedules at worldlacrosse.sport/events.
USA Lacrosse is expanding support for its Sixes national team program ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics by adding <strong>three new technical advisors</strong> to work with both the men's and women's teams. First named: <strong>Tim McCormack</strong>, head women's lacrosse coach at Johns Hopkins and an assistant coach on the 2024 U.S. Women's U20 National Team that won gold in Hong Kong. Last season McCormack led Johns Hopkins to a school-record 17 wins and the program's first Division I championship weekend appearance (NCAA semifinals); he is 51-29 in four seasons with four straight NCAA tournament trips. “Adding Tim McCormack as a technical advisor is a real asset for our sixes national teams,” said Jason Vescovi, VP of High Performance for USA Lacrosse. “His unique experience will help us stay ahead and develop a competitive advantage as the format evolves internationally.” The remaining two advisor appointments have not yet been announced. Source: Johns Hopkins Athletics / USA Lacrosse Magazine.
World Lacrosse and the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation announced that Colorado Springs, Colorado — known globally as Olympic City USA — will host the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, the sport's primary qualifier for the LA 2028 Olympics. The event will take place <strong>October 4-10, 2027</strong> at Weidner Field, the award-winning home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. It will feature 32 national teams (16 men's and 16 women's) representing all four continental regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Pan-America. Five of the six Olympic places in both men's and women's competitions will be secured in Colorado Springs, with only one remaining berth per gender awarded through a final qualification tournament in early 2028. This is the first World Lacrosse championship in the Sixes discipline and one of the most significant Olympic qualification events in the sport's modern history. World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr: 'Few places in the world embody the Olympic spirit like Colorado Springs.' Colorado Springs is home to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee headquarters, more than 50 National Sport Organizations, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum. All matches will be played at Weidner Field and broadcast globally. Source: World Lacrosse, USA Lacrosse.
USA Lacrosse announced the full schedule for the 2026 Atlas Cup, a four-team international Sixes event featuring men's and women's national teams from the United States, Canada, Haudenosaunee, and Ireland — October 23-25 at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Maryland. Single-day tickets are now on sale (Lawn, Stadium, and VIP Hospitality options). The USA vs Canada men's matchup headlines Saturday evening; the USA vs Canada women's game closes the event Sunday afternoon. At the 2025 inaugural edition, the USA women swept to the championship (Chloe Humphrey earned the Titan Award) and Canada won the men's title (Jeff Teat, 6G in the 23-18 final win, earned the men's Titan Award). The event features fan zones, autographs, merchandise, food trucks, and family activities with unprecedented up-close access to the world's best players. Source: USA Lacrosse.
Lacrosse Canada announced UPS Canada as the Founding Partner of its 'Road to LA2028' fundraising campaign — a national initiative supporting Canada's National Sixes Teams on their journey to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Funds raised will directly support athlete preparation, training camps, international competition, sport science, and high-performance initiatives. The campaign officially launches during the 2026 Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships in Oshawa (Sept 29-Oct 4), marking the opening stage of Olympic qualification. Lacrosse Canada CEO Lori DeGraw called it 'a historic moment for our sport.' The partnership gives Canadians a direct way to invest in the National Sixes program. Source: Lacrosse Canada.
USA Lacrosse officially confirmed that both the U.S. Men's and Women's Sixes National Teams will compete at the 2026 Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championship (Sept 29-Oct 4, Oshawa Civic Fields, Oshawa, Ontario) — their first step toward LA 2028 Olympic qualification. Men's head coach <strong>Andy Shay</strong> (Yale) leads a program with recent international success: silver at The World Games 2022, 3-0 at the USA Lacrosse Experience 2024, 2-1 at the inaugural Atlas Cup, and a 5-1 runner-up finish at Super Sixes 2025. Women's head coach <strong>Lindsey Munday</strong> (USC) has led the U.S. women to a perfect 11-0 record across three international events since taking over in 2024, including gold at The World Games 2025. The Pan-American championship is the first continental qualifier; top finishers advance to the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships — the primary qualifier for LA28. Source: USA Lacrosse.
Lacrosse Canada announced its Men's Sixes National Team Training Camp roster ahead of the 2026 Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championship (Sept 29-Oct 4, Oshawa). The 28-player camp roster blends established stars — <strong>Dhane Smith</strong>, <strong>Josh Byrne</strong>, <strong>Challen Rogers</strong>, <strong>Brett Dobson</strong> — with emerging talent including Liam Matthews, Ty Banks, Finn Thomson, and reigning NLL Finals MVP Sam English. Coaches: Eddie Comeau (head), John Grant Jr., Jordan Hall, Brodie Merrill (assistants). Canada hosted Armenia for exhibition games on July 22 at Vaso Field, Ontario Tech University. Canada is the No. 1-ranked men's sixes program and won 2022 World Games gold. The final roster will be selected from this camp. Source: Lacrosse Canada.
USA Lacrosse published a detailed recap of the U.S. Women's Sixes training camp (Aug 18-22, Sparks, Maryland). Head coach Lindsey Munday and assistant Michelle Tumolo ran intense 90-minute sessions over five days, splitting the roster into teams and keeping score to simulate pressure. Munday emphasized sixes requires players to be 'scorers, not just shooters' and highlighted the goalie position as the most important in the format. <strong>First USA caps:</strong> Stony Brook midfielder Isabella Caporuscio impressed in her first sixes experience, delivering a chase-down trail check and a bar-down shovel shot goal; Lacey Downey (Johns Hopkins) and Aditi Foster (Northwestern) also debuted. <strong>Goalie depth:</strong> Three goalies attended — Jenika Cuocco (NCAA champion with Northwestern), JJ Suriano (IWLCA 2026 national goalie of the year), and Taylor Moreno (NCAA champion 2022, UNC career saves leader 667, The World Games 2025 gold medalist). <strong>Notable absences:</strong> Several World Games 2025 gold medalists did not attend — Shea Dolce, Sam Apuzzo, Chloe Humphrey, Kenzie Kent, Ellie Masera, Marie McCool, Charlotte North (recovering from Achilles injury), and Cassidy Weeks — with Munday noting the need to manage player workload. Three sixes events remain in 2026: Pan-American Sixes Championships (Sept 29-Oct 4, Oshawa), Atlas Cup (Oct 23-25, Sparks), and Lexus Global Lacrosse Games (Dec 8-13, Springfield, VA). Source: USA Lacrosse.
Sep 8: Daily verification — no new Olympic or Sixes developments since the Karlsruhe confirmation (Sept 3). All four 2026 continental Sixes qualifiers re-verified against World Lacrosse's official continental-qualifiers page — dates, locations and 2027 WLSC slot counts unchanged. Next up: the inaugural Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championships in Oshawa, Canada open the Road to LA28 on September 29 — 21 days out — with five LA 2028 qualification slots per gender on the line. Follow worldlacrosse.sport/events for schedules and updates.
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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 faceoffs. 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