Table tennis at the LA 2028 Olympics
Table tennis at LA 2028 has six events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles and, for the first time, a mixed team event. The men's and women's team events are dropped. Play is scheduled from July 15 to 29, 2028, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
In this article
The LA 2028 Olympics bring the biggest change to the table tennis program since the sport's Olympic debut in 1988. Men's and women's doubles return after more than 20 years, a brand-new mixed team event is added, and the men's and women's team events are dropped.
Here is what changes, when and where the matches will be played and how players qualify.
What are the table tennis events at LA 2028?
There will be six events, one more than at Paris 2024:
| Event | Paris 2024 | LA 2028 |
|---|---|---|
| Men's singles | Yes | Yes |
| Women's singles | Yes | Yes |
| Men's doubles | No | Yes, returning |
| Women's doubles | No | Yes, returning |
| Mixed doubles | Yes | Yes |
| Men's team | Yes | No |
| Women's team | Yes | No |
| Mixed team | No | Yes, new |
Men's and women's doubles were Olympic events from Seoul 1988 to Athens 2004 and were replaced by team events at Beijing 2008. Mixed doubles debuted at Tokyo 2020. The full history is in table tennis at the Olympics.
What is the mixed team event?
It is the headline change for LA 2028. Each country fields a team of men and women, and a tie mixes doubles and singles matches. The format grows out of the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup, played since 2023, where the games from each match add up across the tie.
According to the published schedule, mixed team starts with a group stage and moves to quarterfinals, semifinals and medal matches on the last day of table tennis. The ITTF sets the final Olympic format, which can still be fine-tuned before the Games.
LA 2028 table tennis schedule and venue
Table tennis is scheduled for July 15 to 29, 2028, starting the day after the opening ceremony. Matches will be at the Los Angeles Convention Center downtown. The mixed doubles medals come early in the program, and mixed team closes it out.
Tickets and session times come from the official LA28 site, and the schedule can change until the Games. If you are in Southern California, the region already hosted the 2026 United States Smash, a top WTT event; see WTT Grand Smash.
How qualifying works
The ITTF published the LA 2028 qualification system in 2026. The key points:
| Rule | How it works |
|---|---|
| Total quota | 172 athletes, half men and half women |
| Per country | Up to 3 men and 3 women |
| Singles | Up to 2 players per country in each draw |
| Doubles | 1 pair per country in each draw |
| Host nation | The United States has guaranteed places |
Spots are awarded through continental events, qualification tournaments and the world ranking. The fine print is detailed and can be revised, so follow the ITTF and USA Table Tennis during the cycle. The world ranking will decide many of the places.
What it means for Team USA
As host, the US has guaranteed places, which is a big opportunity for American table tennis on home soil. The return of doubles and the new mixed team event also help countries with a small group of elite players: with three players per gender, a nation strong in doubles can compete for several medals with the same squad.
Lily Zhang, one of the best-known US players of the last decade, is profiled in Lily Zhang. For how the last Games played out, see table tennis at Paris 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How many table tennis events are at LA 2028?
Six: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles and mixed team.
Is team table tennis being removed from the Olympics?
The men's and women's team events are not on the LA 2028 program. A mixed team event takes their place.
When is table tennis at the LA 2028 Olympics?
From July 15 to 29, 2028.
Where is the LA 2028 table tennis venue?
At the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown LA.
How many table tennis players can each country send to LA 2028?
Up to six: at most three men and three women.