2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships to Debut in Colorado Springs

Lacrosse sixes will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles. But the road to Los Angeles will head through Colorado Springs.

World Lacrosse and the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation have announced that Colorado Springs will host the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, which will serve as the discipline’s primary qualifier for the 2028 Olympic Games in L.A.

The global event — the first championship for the sixes discipline of lacrosse — will be staged October 4–10 at Weidner Field, the home of the USL’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The event will feature 16 men’s and 16 women’s national teams representing World Lacrosse’s four continental regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Pan-America.

Five of the six Olympic places in both the men’s and women’s competitions will be secured at the championships, although the United States will be guaranteed a spot as the host of the Olympic Games. The last remaining berth per gender will be awarded through a final qualification tournament to be determined ahead of the Games.

Landmark Event

The sixes discipline will be the version of lacrosse played at the Olympic Games. (Traditional lacrosse is played with 10 per team). The sport in any discipline has not been staged at the Olympic Games for 120 years.

“Few places in the world embody the Olympic spirit like Colorado Springs,” World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr said. “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.”

And with an Olympic slot on the line, Scherr said the on-field action should be ramped up several notches.

“The stakes extend far beyond the world championship title,” he said. “That will make this competition incredibly fierce.”

The event is a win for Colorado Springs. While the city is home to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and many of the country’s national governing bodies, it has not hosted a major Olympic qualification event in recent history.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with World Lacrosse to bring this historic championship to Colorado Springs,” said Megan Leatham, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. “Hosting the first-ever World Lacrosse Sixes Championship and welcoming the world’s best teams as they compete for places in the Olympic Games is exactly the type of transformational event that reflects who we are as Olympic City USA. This championship will generate tremendous economic impact while introducing thousands of athletes and visitors to our community, our hospitality and our passion for sport.”

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade called the event “a landmark moment” for the city.

“As Olympic City USA, we are honored to welcome the world’s best lacrosse athletes for the first-ever sixes world championships and one of the most important Olympic qualification events on the road to Los Angeles 2028,” he said. “Our community has a long tradition of embracing international sport, and we look forward to welcoming athletes and visitors from around the globe to experience everything Colorado Springs has to offer.”

The event is also a milestone for Weidner Field, which is meant to attract more events to Colorado Springs.

“Since opening in 2021, the vision has been for Weidner Field to host world-class sporting events that inspire our community and showcase Colorado Springs on the international stage,” Switchbacks FC President Brad Estes said. “The speed, athleticism and excitement of sixes lacrosse will create an incredible atmosphere, and we look forward to seeing fans from around the world fill our stadium.”

Attending a press conference to announce the event, USA Lacrosse President and CEO Marc Riccio praised the growth of the sport in Colorado specifically.

“What was once a northeast or central sport has really become a booming sport,” he said. “Colorado is a top 10 market for us.”

New Events in 2028

Lacrosse sixes will be one of five new or newly added events to the Olympic program in 2028. The larger version of the sport was part of the medal program at the 1904 Games in St. Louis and the 1908 Games in London, and was also featured as a demonstration sport in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles) and 1948 (London).

Other sports returning after absences in Los Angeles are cricket, which was last staged in 1900, and baseball/softball, which last appeared in 2021 in Tokyo. Squash and flag football will make their true Olympics debut in 2028 as well.