Tokyo to Host 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship
Event will debut new 16-team championship format
Posted On: January 21, 2025 By :Tokyo will host the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship from July 24 through August 2, the first world championship in Japan since 1997.
The Oi Hockey Stadium will be used for the majority of the games in the 16-team championship, with Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground hosting medal matches and the semifinal round.
“We are thrilled to officially announce Tokyo as the host city for our upcoming women’s championship,” said Jim Scherr, World Lacrosse chief executive officer. “As a dynamic global city renowned for its world-class facilities, exceptional hospitality and vibrant cultural heritage, Tokyo provides the perfect setting to showcase the pinnacle of international lacrosse.”
The U.S. women have dominated international competition since the first world championship was held in 1982. The Americans have won nine of the previous 11 World Lacrosse championships, including four straight from 2009 through 2022 and the 1997 event held in the Edogawa ward of Tokyo.
The 2026 Women’s Championship will mark the first to use a new championship format, with 16 teams competing based on results from continental qualifiers. The U.S. will compete to earn its spot during the Pan-American Lacrosse Association continental qualifier this June in Florida.
“This tournament, held at the Oi Hockey Stadium – part of the legacy of Tokyo 2020 – and the historic Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, will mark the 40th anniversary of lacrosse in Japan,” said Yusuke Sasaki, Japan Lacrosse Association president. “Under the banner of ‘Lacrosse Makes Friends,’ we look forward to fostering international friendships that transcend borders and generations through the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. We are delighted to deepen international friendship with lacrosse fans that will last for 50 or even 100 years to come.”
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