USA receives host quotas for LA28 basketball in Los Angeles, California; 24-team field across two Olympic tournaments

How to qualify for basketball at LA28 Olympics: The qualification system, explained

Find out everything you need to know about the format, key events, and the players to watch in Los Angeles.

There are two basketball tournaments at the LA28 Olympic Games : the men’s and women’s, each with 12 teams competing.

The first qualification tournament for women is the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, 4-13 September in Germany, and the final opportunity is the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in February 2028.

The qualification period for men begins with the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, 27 August-12 September 2027, and closes with the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2028 (26 June - 2 July).

The United States will be allocated one quota place in each tournament as the host nation.

To be eligible to participate at LA28, athletes must comply with the current Olympic Charter, including nationality requirements, anti-doping regulations and the eligibility rules established by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

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LA 2028 basketball qualification - quick glance

Olympic basketball at LA28 will feature two 12-team tournaments , one for men and one for women.

There will be a total of 24 teams, with 12 athletes per team for a total of 288 players .

Quota places are allocated to National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

For the women’s competition, NOCs can obtain quotas through the FIFA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 and the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2028.

For the men’s competition, NOCs can secure spots through the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2028.

The United States receives one quota in each tournament as host nation, subject to approval by the FIBA Central Board in 2027.

How does basketball qualification for the LA28 Olympics work?

Teams can secure a spot at the Games through three routes: host nation allocation (the United States), FIBA men’s and women’s World Cups, and the respective FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

Quotas will be allocated as follows.

The champion of the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 will obtain a quota. If the USA, who already have a guaranteed spot as the host nation, win, no other team will qualify through this tournament.

The remaining quota spots (11 should the USA win the World Cup, 10 if they do not) will be allocated through the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

Participation at the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will be secured through the four continental championships (Africa, Americas, Asia-Oceania, and Europe) and a Pre-Qualifying Tournament for teams that didn’t qualify for the FIBA Women’s World Cup.

The FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments consist of four tournaments of four teams, taking place from 10 to 13 February 2028.

The three highest-placed teams in each tournament will obtain a quota for LA28. If the host nation or the World Cup champion is in the group, only the two highest-placed eligible teams will secure a quota for their respective NOC.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 will be the main qualification hub on the men’s side. A total of seven teams will obtain a quota for their NOC, excluding the host nation.

The best teams from each continent, based on the final official classification of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, will obtain a quota. Distribution will be as follows:

Americas - 2 teams, excluding the host nation

The remaining spots will be allocated through the four FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2028.

Participation at the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will be secured through the Basketball World Cup 2027 and the FIBA Olympic Pre -Qualifying Tournaments in 2027.

A total of 24 teams will participate in the four FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. Each tournament will consist of six teams, with the winner obtaining a quota for LA28.

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How many athletes will compete in basketball at LA28?

The men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will each feature 12 teams of 12 athletes. Therefore, a total of 144 athletes per gender (and 288 basketball players overall) will compete at LA28.

What is the LA28 basketball competition format and schedule?

The Olympic basketball competition will start before the Opening Ceremony of LA28. The matches will take place from 12 to 30 July at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

The competition format will see 12 teams divided into three groups of four. The two highest-placed teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams.

The women’s tournament will start on 12 July, with the gold medal game on 29 July. The men’s tournament will start on 13 July, with the gold medal game on 30 July.

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Basketball stars to watch at LA28 Olympics*

The home nation will likely be the favourite for the gold medal in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

In men’s basketball, the United States has won eight of the last nine gold medals, including the last five consecutively, while the women’s side has won uninterruptedly since Atlanta 1996 .

The men’s team could include Paris 2024 gold medallists such as Anthony Edwards , Devin Booker or Bam Adebayo , along with rising stars like Cooper Flagg or Cade Cunningham .

It remains to be seen whether Kevin Durant will look to extend his record with a fifth gold medal.

The women’s team could be headlined by A’Ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart , surrounded by a new wave of young talent in Caitlin Clark , Olivia Miles , Paige Bueckers , or Angel Reese .

But there will be no shortage of medal contenders.

In men’s basketball, France will be one of the teams to watch for years to come with a generational talent like Victor Wembanyama in their ranks. Canada have a wealth of NBA talent surrounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , while Nikola Jokic ’s Serbia or Luka Doncic ’s Slovenia can’t be ruled out of medalling.

In women’s basketball, European powerhouses such as France , silver medallist in Paris 2024; Belgium , reigning European champion; or Spain , fresh off a generational changeover; and Australia seem like teams to watch on the road to LA28.

Find out more about the qualification system for other sports that will feature at Los Angeles 2028.

*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective teams at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the LA Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at LA28.

Picture by 2024 Getty Images

14 - 30 July 2028

LA 2028 | Olympic Games | USA