Virtually all recognized countries (around 207 National Olympic Committees) will likely participate in the LA 2028 Olympics, as the core Olympic structure invites almost every nation, but specific strong teams in new/returning sports like USA, Canada, Australia, China, India, Great Britain, New Zealand, Japan, Chinese Taipei, West Indies, and even indigenous groups like the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, are expected to shine in sports like Cricket, Lacrosse, Baseball/Softball. The final list depends on Olympic qualification, but historical powerhouses and emerging nations always attend.

Key Participants & Strong Contenders (Based on recent trends & new sports):

Hosts & Traditional Powers: USA, Canada, China, Australia, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia (pending political situations).

Cricket: India, Australia, England (as Great Britain), South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan.

Lacrosse: USA (favorites), Canada, England, Australia, Haudenosaunee Confederacy (indigenous team).

Softball/Baseball: USA, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Australia, Mexico, South Korea.

Emerging Teams: Nations from Asia (e.g., Chinese Taipei, Republic of Korea), Africa (e.g., South Africa), and South America always bring strong contingents.

How Participation is Determined:

IOC Membership: Nearly all of the world's countries (represented by National Olympic Committees) qualify automatically, with hosts (USA) getting spots.

Sport-Specific Qualification: Athletes qualify through world championships, continental tournaments, and specific ranking systems for each sport.

New/Returning Sports: Sports like Cricket, Flag Football, Lacrosse, Squash, Baseball/Softball are added by LA28 organizers, bringing specific national strengths to the forefront.

In short, expect nearly everyone, with special attention to teams dominating the new sports in LA.