Basketball at 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to tip off two days before opening ceremony

Basketball is set to begin earlier than expected at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

This week, FIBA, the organization that manages international basketball for the Olympics, revealed that the updated schedule will kick off on July 12, just two days prior to the Opening Ceremonies on July 14.

FIBA explained, “This change allows the Quarter-Finals to take place over two days and guarantees that no game will begin before 12:00 PM, improving the experience for players, teams, fans, and broadcasters.”

However, it remains unclear if this change affects just the men’s tournaments, the women’s, or both. Each tournament will feature twelve teams from the men's and women's categories, qualifying through results from the World Cup and additional qualifying events. The tournaments will conclude with the gold medal matches on July 29 and 30, which is also the last day of the Olympics in Los Angeles. All basketball competitions are scheduled to occur at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, home of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The United States holds the title of gold medal champions for both men, having won five consecutive Olympic titles, and women, who are the reigning champions for the eighth time.