Squash will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. After more than 30 years of campaigning, the sport finally earned its place on the world's biggest sporting stage.
This is the most significant moment in squash history since the glass court revolution in the 1980s. Here is everything you need to know about squash at LA 2028, from qualification pathways to what it means for grassroots players and clubs.
How Squash Got to the Olympics
The World Squash Federation (WSF) has been working with the IOC since 1986. The first formal Olympic bid brochure was produced for the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Over eight consecutive Olympic cycles, squash submitted bids for inclusion: 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. Each time, the answer was no. At the 2005 IOC session for London 2012, squash was voted top of the shortlist of candidate sports but still was not included.
On 16 October 2023, at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, squash was officially confirmed for the LA 2028 Olympics alongside cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and baseball/softball. The LA28 organising committee proposed squash as one of its optional sports.
Nobody keeps squash out five times, as the saying went. It took eight attempts, but the sport got there.
Events and Format
LA 2028 will feature two squash medal events:
- Men's Singles
- Women's Singles
Each draw will have 16 players, making 32 total athletes competing in squash at the Olympics. The format is single-elimination bracket, best-of-five games, first to 11 points per game (with two clear points required).
The Venue: Universal Studios Lot
Squash will be played at the Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios Lot, located at Courthouse Square in the Universal City Zone of the LA28 Games plan. If the location sounds familiar, it is the filming location of Back to the Future and To Kill a Mockingbird.
This is the first venue in Olympic history with naming rights, through Comcast sponsorship.
Competition runs from Saturday 15 July to Monday 24 July 2028, starting one day after the Opening Ceremony. Ten days of elite squash on the world's biggest stage.
How Players Qualify
There are five pathways into the Olympic squash draw. Athletes must be at least 16 years old by the opening day of competition (14 July 2028).
1. Continental Games (5 spots per gender)
One qualification spot is available through each of the five continental games:
| Continental Games | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Asian Games | Nagoya, Japan | Sep-Oct 2026 |
| African Games | Cairo, Egypt | Jan-Feb 2027 |
| European Games | Istanbul, Turkey | Jun 2027 |
| Pan American Games | Lima, Peru | Jul-Aug 2027 |
| Pacific Games | Pirae/Tahiti | Jul-Aug 2027 |
2. Host Country Quota (1 spot per gender)
The USA is guaranteed at least one athlete per gender through the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
3. World Rankings (8 spots per gender)
Eight spots are allocated based on PSA World Rankings. Players must be ranked inside the top 50 at the cut-off date of 22 May 2028.
4. Final Qualifying Tournament (1 spot per gender)
A 24-athlete tournament scheduled for 6-10 June 2028 offers one final spot per gender.
5. Universality Place (1 spot per gender)
One spot is available to eligible National Olympic Committees to ensure global representation.
What This Means for Grassroots Squash
Olympic inclusion is not just about 32 elite athletes. The ripple effects reach every level of the sport.
New Funding
National federations can now access Olympic Solidarity funding from the IOC. The IOC contributes an annual grant to squash as an Associate Olympic Sport. More importantly, national federations are leveraging Olympic status to secure municipal and government funding for new courts and community programmes.
For decades, squash facilities have been closing or converting to other uses. Olympic status gives federations a concrete argument for investment: this is now an Olympic sport, and it needs infrastructure.
Player Development Pathways
US Squash launched an Olympic-Era Player Development Pathway in March 2025 to identify and develop athletes from grassroots to national team level. They also launched a Drive to LA28 fundraising campaign in June 2025, with 100% of contributions going to Team USA Squash, player development, and sport growth.
England Squash called Olympic inclusion a "transformational moment" for the sport. European Squash is actively preparing qualifying pathways through continental games.
Visibility
Being part of the world's biggest sporting event exposes squash to billions of viewers for the first time. For a sport that has historically struggled with mainstream visibility, this is enormous.
Every club, academy, and federation benefits when squash appears alongside athletics, swimming, and gymnastics on the Olympic broadcast.
Participation Growth
The pattern is well documented across other Olympic sports: inclusion drives participation. When people see a sport at the Olympics, they want to try it. Clubs that are ready with programmes, events, and welcoming environments will capture that interest.
What Federations Are Doing
World Squash Federation
The WSF established an Olympic Games Committee to manage all Olympic-related matters and underwent its first formal governance audit as an Olympic sport in late 2025. They published the official qualification system in January 2026 and are encouraging all national federations to apply for Olympic Solidarity funding.
PSA and National Federations
The PSA and a coalition of national federations proposed a Global Task Force to analyse the sport's global situation and ensure a solid foundation for growth. Regional federations worldwide have pledged fundraising support and are coordinating their continental games qualification processes.
US Squash
As the host nation federation, US Squash has been particularly active:
- Drive to LA28 fundraising campaign (June 2025)
- Olympic-Era Player Development Pathway (March 2025)
- National Squash57 Growth Campaign (January 2026) to broaden participation through the shorter-format game
Key Dates at a Glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 16 Oct 2023 | Squash confirmed for LA 2028 |
| Sep-Oct 2026 | Asian Games, Nagoya (continental qualifier) |
| Jan-Feb 2027 | African Games, Cairo (continental qualifier) |
| Jun 2027 | European Games, Istanbul (continental qualifier) |
| Jul-Aug 2027 | Pan American Games, Lima (continental qualifier) |
| Jul-Aug 2027 | Pacific Games, Tahiti (continental qualifier) |
| 22 May 2028 | World ranking cut-off for qualification |
| 6-10 Jun 2028 | Final qualifying tournament |
| 15-24 Jul 2028 | Olympic squash competition, LA |
What This Means for Tournament Organisers
If you run squash events at any level, Olympic inclusion changes the landscape in your favour.
More players entering the sport means more demand for tournaments, leagues, and competitive opportunities. Clubs that run regular events will see increased interest from new players who discovered squash through the Olympics.
Federation investment in grassroots events is increasing as national bodies build pathways from club level to international competition. Your local tournament is now part of a pipeline that leads to the Olympics.
Rating systems matter more than ever. With Olympic qualification tied to world rankings, transparent rating systems that track player development from grassroots to elite level become essential infrastructure for the sport.
PlayPulse provides the tournament infrastructure that growing squash communities need: digital draws, live scoring, ELO ratings, and online registration, all in one platform. Whether you are running a club night or a national championship, the tools are the same.
If you are looking for practical guidance, our guides on how to run a squash tournament, creating tournament draws, and how ELO ratings work in squash cover the fundamentals. For club committees thinking about growth, see our guide on how to grow your squash club.
As squash enters its Olympic era, the sport needs modern infrastructure to match its ambitions. The passion has always been there. Now the world is watching.
Running squash events and want to be ready for the Olympic era? See how PlayPulse works or reach out at playpulse.io@gmail.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will squash be played at the 2028 Olympics?
Squash competition runs from 15 July to 24 July 2028 at the Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles.
How many squash players will compete at the Olympics?
32 athletes total: 16 in the men's singles draw and 16 in the women's singles draw.
How do squash players qualify for the Olympics?
There are five pathways: continental games (5 spots), world rankings (8 spots), host country quota (1 spot), final qualifying tournament (1 spot), and a universality place (1 spot), per gender.
Is this the first time squash has been in the Olympics?
Yes. Squash makes its Olympic debut at LA 2028 after more than 30 years of campaigning for inclusion, with bids submitted for eight consecutive Olympic cycles starting from 1992.
What format will Olympic squash use?
Single-elimination bracket, best-of-five games, first to 11 points per game with two clear points required.
Where will Olympic squash be played?
At the Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios Lot (Courthouse Square) in the Universal City Zone of the LA28 Games plan.