New to these sports? Don’t worry, you're not the only one! Here's a little tip: the easiest way to enjoy something new is by knowing who to watch and who to root for.
If you want to sound like a pro at dinner or impress your friends who are into sports, check out this quick guide to the top countries and big stories in Olympic's newest events.
Baseball/Softball
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Baseball and softball are making their return to the Olympics! This will be the seventh time men's baseball is featured, and the sixth for women's softball.
Baseball will be played in Los Angeles, where it first appeared as a demonstration sport, while softball heads to Oklahoma City, home of the top softball stadium in the U.S.
When it comes to top teams, two countries dominate: Japan and the United States. At Tokyo 2020, Japan took both gold medals in baseball and softball, proving they're the team to beat.
One of the big storylines: Japanese pitching superstar Shohei Ohtani, who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, may face off again against Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani struck out Trout to win the 2023 World Baseball Classic—could there be a Hollywood-style rematch at LA28? But the home-field advantage might go to the Americans if they face off in the Olympics.
In men’s baseball, Cuba has been dominant historically, winning three of the first four Olympic titles. But other countries like South Korea, the Dominican Republic, and Taiwan have also been strong. Mexico and Venezuela are rising in the ranks, and Europe (with teams like Great Britain, Czechia, and the Netherlands) is becoming more competitive too.
The World Baseball Classic is another big international tournament. Japan has won three titles (2006, 2009, 2023), while the Dominican Republic (2013) and the United States (2017) have also claimed championships. Puerto Rico, South Korea, and Cuba are always tough competition, having reached finals and semifinals many times.
In softball, the U.S. has been the dominant force, winning three Olympic titles and 12 Women's Softball World Cup trophies. But Japan is closing the gap, having won four World Cup titles and claiming the latest championship in 2024.
Other countries like Canada, Taiwan, Italy, and China are getting closer to the top, while Australia and New Zealand bring a lot of tradition and fierce competition to the game.
Cricket
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Cricket is making its long-awaited return to the Olympics after more than a century! The last time it was played was in Paris 1900, with just one match between Great Britain and France. But now, cricket is back at LA28, with both men’s and women’s tournaments played in T20 format—a faster version of the game designed for modern fans.
Cricket was born in England, but today it’s a global sport. India, the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup champions, will be a strong contender, along with England (who won the tournament in 2010 and 2022). Other top teams like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa are also expected to battle for the podium.
For the women, the sport has grown tremendously since the Women’s T20 World Cup started in 2009. Australia has been the dominant team, winning a record six titles by 2024. But the competition is getting fiercer—New Zealand won their first title in 2024, defeating South Africa, and England (the 2009 champs) is still a major threat.
As cricket returns to the Olympics, LA28 will not only celebrate its rich history but also bring the excitement of a fast-paced game where every ball, every catch, and every big hit could inspire the next generation of players.
Flag Football
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Flag football is making its Olympic debut at LA28, offering a fast, contact-free spin on traditional American football. And what better place for its first Olympic appearance than the home of the NFL?
The United States enters as the favorite in both the men’s and women’s events. At the 2024 IFAF World Championships, the U.S. claimed gold in both divisions—marking their sixth men's title and successfully defending their women’s crown. The U.S. men, led by quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette, also took gold at The World Games in 2022.
On the women’s side, Team USA is still the top-ranked team globally, but their biggest competition comes from their neighbors to the south.
Mexico has quickly become a powerhouse in international flag football. In 2022, their women’s team shocked the U.S. to win gold at The World Games, and their quarterback, Diana Flores, has become a major face of the sport. She even starred in an NFL Super Bowl commercial promoting women’s sports.
As LA28 approaches, expect other countries like Austria, Japan, Germany, and Canada to challenge for medals. Austria’s men took silver in 2024, and Canada’s women have been consistently finishing in the top four.
With more countries getting into flag football, the sport’s Olympic debut could be the start of something big on the global stage.
Lacrosse
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Lacrosse is one of the most deeply rooted sports in North America, with origins as a spiritual and communal practice among Indigenous communities. Known in some traditions as "stickball," it’s returning to the Olympics at LA28 in the fast-paced sixes format—designed to keep the action exciting and perfect for the Olympic spotlight.
This will be lacrosse’s first Olympic appearance in over 100 years. It was last part of the Games in 1904 and 1908, where Canada won gold both times. Since then, it’s only been a demonstration sport but has grown into a global game, now played in nearly 100 countries.
The U.S. and Canada remain the dominant forces in lacrosse. In field lacrosse, the U.S. leads with 11 men’s world titles, and in the women’s game, they’ve claimed nine golds at World Championships, most recently defeating Canada in 2022.
But with the sixes format, things are starting to change. At The World Games 2022, Canada made a huge impact by winning both the men’s and women’s gold medals, beating the U.S. in back-to-back finals and proving they’re the team to beat at LA28.
Of course, three years is a long time in sports. Since then, athletes worldwide have been working hard on their sixes skills, with top teams showing off their abilities at the Premier and Women’s Lacrosse League (PLL/WLL) Championship Series. The rivalry isn’t over either—the women will face off again in August 2025 at The World Games, with global bragging rights up for grabs.
Australia, which has been a top contender in both field and sixes lacrosse, is the only other nation to have won the women’s world title, taking home gold in 1986 and 2005.
The Haudenosaunee Nationals, representing the Indigenous roots of the game, have also been impressive, earning three consecutive bronze medals at the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship. England and Japan have also been consistent challengers, and as LA28 gets closer, more countries are getting into the mix.
Squash
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Squash is finally making its Olympic debut at LA28, after years of being a popular sport outside the Olympic spotlight. While it was a demonstration event at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires and has been featured at The World Games since 1997, this will be the first time squash players compete for Olympic medals. And when they do, all eyes will be on Egypt.
At the 2024 World Team Championships in Hong Kong, Egypt made history by sweeping both the men’s and women’s titles. This marked their seventh men’s title and fourth straight women’s win, showing just how much the country has invested in developing top talent, from grassroots all the way to elite training.
On the individual side, Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini has dominated, winning eight world titles in the past nine years, tying the all-time record. Her biggest rival? Fellow Egyptian Nouran Gohar, who beat El Sherbini in the 2024 world final.
In the men’s game, Egypt’s Mostafa Asal won his biggest title yet in 2025, defeating his compatriot and four-time world champion Ali Farag in the final, completing another Egyptian sweep.
But there are challengers rising. Peru’s Diego Elias, ranked No. 2 in the world, broke Egypt’s winning streak to win a world title in 2024. New Zealand’s Paul Coll and the USA’s Olivia Weaver are also among the growing list of players shaking things up.
England, with its rich history in squash, is still a strong contender. They finished as runners-up in the 2024 men’s team event and have Mohamed ElShorbagy, a former world champion, on their side. On the women’s side, Georgina Kennedy, a Harvard graduate with a growing fan base, currently holds a top-10 ranking.
Other nations like Malaysia, France, Belgium, and the United States are continuing to build their squash programs.
Now that squash is part of the Olympics, it’s the perfect time for the sport to enter a new era on the world stage.
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