How to qualify in Taekwondo
How taekwondo athletes qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
Taekwondo at Los Angeles 2028 has eight weights, four for men and four for women, with 16 athletes in each: 128 places in all. A country can have one athlete per weight.
There are three routes:
- The WT Olympic ranking published in January 2028: the top five in each weight win a place. The ranking counts results from 1 June 2026, so the 2026 Asian Games already count.
- The Grand Slam Champions Series in Wuxi, China, in December 2027: the top athlete in each weight on its merit points.
- Five continental qualifiers in February to April 2028: 72 places. Asia's carries two places in each weight.
The place belongs to the country, not the athlete. But the athlete it sends must meet a standard, such as being in the top 20 of the ranking for a ranking place.
The United States as host gets up to two men and two women, and four universality places go to countries with few Olympic athletes.
The places
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WT Olympic ranking (top five per weight) | 20 | 20 | 40 |
| Grand Slam Champions Series (top one per weight) | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Continental qualifiers | 36 | 36 | 72 |
| Host country | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Universality | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Total | 64 | 64 | 128 |
Weights. Men −58, −68, −80 and +80 kg. Women −49, −57, −67 and +67 kg.
Per country: one athlete per weight. Up to four per gender through the ranking and Grand Slam, but at most two per gender through the continental qualifiers.
Who can compete
Every athlete must be born on or before 31 December 2011, hold a Kukkiwon Dan certificate and hold a WT Global Athlete Licence. On top of that:
| Place won through | The athlete sent must |
|---|---|
| The ranking | Have been in the top 20 of the WT Olympic ranking at some point from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2028 |
| The Grand Slam series | Have been in the top 20 of its merit points standings from 1 January 2027 to 1 May 2028 |
| A continental qualifier, host or universality place | Meet one of: a medal at any WT calendar event (1 June 2026 to 31 May 2028); top 20 in the world ranking once; last 16 at the 2025 or 2027 World Championships; quarter-final at a continental championships (from 1 February 2026) or qualifier; a national title (1 June 2026 to 31 May 2028) |
Route 1: the WT Olympic ranking (40 places)
The top five in each weight on the Olympic ranking published in January 2028, including the 2027 Grand Prix Final in Tai'an, China. Ties go to the athlete with points from higher-graded events. See the taekwondo ranking page for how points are earned.
Route 2: the Grand Slam Champions Series (8 places)
The top athlete in each weight on the merit points standings after the 2027 series in Wuxi. If that athlete already qualified through the ranking, the place goes to the second; no further.
Route 3: continental qualifiers (72 places)
| Continent | Places | How |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | 16 | Top two per weight |
| Asia | 16 | Top two per weight |
| Europe | 16 | Top two per weight |
| Oceania | 8 | Top one per weight |
| Pan America | 16 | Top two per weight |
Only countries with fewer than two places per gender from routes 1 and 2 can enter (or that give places back). A weight needs at least four athletes weighing in and competing; otherwise the place is reallocated. The host country cannot enter its continental qualifier.
The host country
The United States is guaranteed two men's and two women's places, one per weight, reduced by places it wins: none won in a gender, two host places; one won, one; two or more, none. Its host athletes are seeded fourth. It must name its host weights by 30 September 2027.
Universality places
Four, two per gender. The IOC invites requests on 1 October 2027, with a deadline of 15 January 2028.
Places turned down
| Place | Goes to |
|---|---|
| Ranking | The next eligible athlete in that weight, January 2028 ranking |
| Grand Slam | The second in the standings; if that athlete is in already, the next on the ranking |
| Continental | The next-placed athlete at that qualifier |
| Continental, if the qualifier is cancelled | The next athlete from that continent on the ranking |
| Continental, fewer than four competing | The next athlete from any continent on the ranking |
| Host | A universality place |
| Universality | The next athlete in that weight on the ranking |
Dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 June 2026 | The Olympic ranking period opens |
| 30 September 2027 | The United States names its host weights |
| 1 October 2027 to 15 January 2028 | Universality requests |
| December 2027 (to be confirmed) | Grand Prix Final, Tai'an; Grand Slam Champions Series, Wuxi |
| 6 January 2028 | Olympic ranking published |
| 11 January 2028 | WT confirms ranking places; countries confirm Grand Slam places |
| 25 January 2028 | Countries confirm ranking places |
| February to April 2028 | Continental qualifiers (dates to be confirmed) |
| 2 May 2028 | Universality places confirmed |
| 16 May 2028 | Last reallocation |
| 26 June 2028 | Entries deadline for the Games |
| 14 to 30 July 2028 | LA28 Olympic Games |
Two things that do not fit. The host rule deducts places won through the continental qualifiers (D.3), but the host cannot enter its own. And the host must name its weights on 30 September 2027, before the ranking and Grand Slam places that reduce its host places are known.
Where to follow it
worldtaekwondo.org publishes the Olympic ranking every month and the results of each qualifier.