T20 World Cup to Boost Cricket’s Popularity in the US Ahead of 2028 Olympics

The upcoming T20 World Cup is set to make a significant impact on cricket’s popularity in the United States as the sport gears up for its appearance at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed confidence that the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States in June, will help build a strong fanbase for cricket in the US.

Chris Tetley, the ICC’s head of events, highlighted the importance of bringing a World Cup to the US, the largest sports market in the world. “This is a key stepping stone for the promotion of the game towards 2028 and beyond in terms of providing world-class cricket for the massive existing fanbase that the sport already has in the US,” Tetley said.

The tournament will feature top teams from around the world competing in venues such as New York, Florida, and Dallas. One of the most anticipated matches of the World Cup will be the India-Pakistan clash scheduled for June 9 at Nassau County’s Eisenhower Park near New York.

Stadium manager Damian Hough expressed his satisfaction with the preparations for the tournament, including the construction of a temporary 34,000-seater stadium with a drop-in cricket pitch. Hough and his team have worked tirelessly to ensure that the pitch meets the standards expected for a T20 tournament.

While the stadium will be dismantled after the event, Tetley emphasized that the legacy of world-class facilities will have a lasting impact on cricket in the United States. With cricket set to feature as one of the new sports at the 2028 Olympics, the T20 World Cup is seen as a crucial step in building a strong fanbase for the sport in the US.