On 18 May 2026, the first Olympic Qualification Period for LA28 triathlon quota places opens, with points available from that date until 18 May 2028, split across two separate one-year periods.
A maximum of 55 men and 55 women are set to start, with a maximum three of either gender from any one country able to qualify. But the various potential routes to that start line are numerous for athletes inside the top 160 in the World Triathlon rankings on 18 May 2028.
These pathways are all to allocate quota places only. It is the National Olympic Committee of each country earning a place who will determine the athletes who represent them in Los Angeles on 15th (women), 16th (men) and 20th July (Mixed Relay) 2028.
The two distinct Qualification Periods run from 18th May 2026 – 18th May 2027 and 19th May 2027 – 18th May 2028. An athlete’s 12 best scores, and no more than 7 from either period, will count in the rankings. At least two of those scores in each period must be achieved in Olympic distance events.
Rankings-eligible Events
The Individual Ranking point-scoring events are:
World Triathlon Championship Finals (1250 points), World Triathlon Championship Series (1000), LA28 Test Event (1000), World Cup (500), Olympic distance Continental Championships (400) and Continental Games (400).
In the Mixed Relay, a team’s 6 best points scores will count, with no more than 3 from either period eligible. The Mixed Relay point-scoring events are:World Championships (1000 points), Series (800), Test Event (800), Relay World Cup (500) and Continental Championships (400).
How to Qualify for LA28
Now for the finer details. There are a possible eight different pathways by which quota places will be earned, the below numbers applying to both men and women in all cases:
1 - TWO places for the USA as host nation.
2 - TWO places for the 2026 Mixed Relay World Champions.
3 - TWO places for the 2027 Mixed Relay World Champions (rolling down to second, third, fourth etc if athletes are not eligible).
4 – SIXTEEN places determined by the Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Ranking and guaranteeing one per continent not yet represented and if inside the top 15.
5 – TWENTY ONE places via Individual Olympic Ranking – the 21 highest ranked and eligible athletes - on 18th May 2028.
6 – Up to TWO Universality quota places as allocated by Tripartite Commission – with countries able to apply for an invitation and the commission making its decision. If not allocated, those one or two places will be allocated according to the Olympic Qualification Ranking.
7 – A brand new pathway for LA28 qualification will allow up to FIVE quota places – one per continent – for Continental Games New Flag nations who have not yet got a place. Awarded to the top athletes at the 2026 Asian Games and the 2027 African Games, Pan American Games, European Games and Pacific Games.
8 – Up to FIVE quota places - one per continent – will go to the World Triathlon Rankings New Flag – the top-ranked athlete from NOCs not yet with a quota place. If no eligible athlete, the places revert to the World Triathlon Ranking.
The points allocation will be the same for WTCS and T50 and World Cup and Challenger events when the Triathlon World Tour begins in 2027.
You can watch every Series and World Cup race this season as the action hots up, only on TriathlonLive.tv