The road to the first European Games to feature squash and the sport’s Olympic debut at LA28 is now clear, with Team Ireland confirming nomination standards and qualification pathways for Irish athletes.
The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI), in partnership with Squash Ireland, has published the Team Ireland nomination policies for the Istanbul 2027 European Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, providing athletes with clear performance standards and qualification pathways for two landmark events in the sport’s history.
The next cycle marks a significant moment for squash. Istanbul 2027 will be the first European Games to include squash, while LA28 will see the sport make its Olympic debut, with competition taking place at the iconic Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles.
The European Games will be a key milestone on the road to LA28, offering valuable PSA World Ranking points and a direct Olympic qualification opportunity for the men’s and women’s winners, subject to eligibility requirements.
Minimum Team Ireland Nomination Standard – Istanbul 2027
• Secure a direct qualification place by ranking within the top 21 athletes on the European Games Ranking List.
• Or win the Final Qualifying Tournament.
• In exceptional circumstances, finish runner-up in the Final Qualifying Tournament and demonstrate strong future Major Games potential.
Scott Graham, CEO of Squash Ireland, said:
“With the nomination policies for both the 2027 European Games and the 2028 Olympic Games now published, our athletes, coaches and support staff know what is required to earn a place on the biggest stage of all. The bar is set extremely high to make Team Ireland, which will make achieving this honour even more special.
As an ambitious National Governing Body, we have high expectations, and our athletes and coaches are driving this progress through an increasingly professional approach. This has already paid dividends, with Ireland securing double gold at the 2026 European Team Championships and earning promotion to Division 1, where Europe’s top 12 nations compete.
All three of Ireland’s leading squash players are now at career-high world rankings, giving Ireland three athletes inside the world’s top 100 for the first time in 17 years. We expect Ireland to be well represented at the highest level of the sport in the years ahead.”
The publication of these policies gives athletes clarity as they prepare for a historic period for Irish squash and the opportunity to compete for Team Ireland at both the first-ever European Games squash competition and the sport’s Olympic debut at LA28.
The publication of these policies gives athletes clarity as they prepare for a historic period for Irish squash and the opportunity to compete for Team Ireland at both the first-ever European Games squash competition and the sport’s Olympic debut at LA28.