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World Lacrosse

International governing body for lacrosse From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

World Lacrosse
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World Lacrosse (WL), formerly the Federation of International Lacrosse, is the international governing body of lacrosse, responsible for the men's, women's, and indoor versions of the sport. It was established on 30 September 2008 by the merger of the previously separate men's and women's international lacrosse associations.[2] Its headquarters are in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States.[3]

Quick facts Sport, Jurisdiction ...

World Lacrosse has 92 members.[4] It is the only international sport organization to recognize First Nations bands and Native American tribes as sovereign nations.[citation needed] The Haudenosaunee Nationals of the First Nations Lacrosse Association represent the Haudenosaunee people of New York and Ontario.

World Lacrosse was given provisional recognition status by the International Olympic Committee in November 2018.[5] In May 2019, the Federation of International Lacrosse launched a rebrand and changed its name to World Lacrosse.[6]

In March 2022, due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian teams, athletes, and officials were suspended from participation in World Lacrosse events and qualifiers, and it was decided that no World Lacrosse or European Lacrosse Federation events would be held in Russia.[7]

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Tournaments

World Lacrosse

World Lacrosse organizes the following tournaments:

Games

Regional

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Medals

As of 1 August 2025 (After 49 Events)

Events

  1. World Lacrosse Men's Championship (1967-2023) - 14 Editions
  2. World Lacrosse Women's Championship (1982-2022) - 11 Editions
  3. World Lacrosse Men's U20 Championship (1988-2022) - 9 Editions
  4. World Lacrosse Women's U20 Championship (1995-2024) - 8 Editions
  5. World Lacrosse Box Men's Championships (2003-2024) - 6 Editions
  6. World Lacrosse Box Women's Championships (2024-2024) - 1 Editions

Ranking

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World Ranking

Source:[8]

Rankings are based on results from the most recent world championships (1 August 2025):

Men’s Field - 30 Nations

Women’s Field - 30 Nations

U20 Men’s Field - 23 Nations

U20 Women’s Field - 20 Nations

Men’s Box - 28 Nations

Women’s Box - 10 Nations

Men’s Sixes - 8 Nations

Women’s Sixes - 8 Nations

Members

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As of March 2024, there are 92 member countries in World Lacrosse, 48 full members and 44 associate members.[4] Membership is split between four continental federations who are affiliated with World Lacrosse and help to develop lacrosse across the world. Associate members are in italics.[9]

  1. African Association of Lacrosse (AAL) - 2022
  2. Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union (APLU) - 2004
  3. European Lacrosse Federation (ELF) - 1995
  4. Pan-American Lacrosse Association (PALA) - 2018

African Association of Lacrosse (15)

The African Association of Lacrosse (AAL) has 2 full members and 13 associate members.

  • Benin Benin (2023)
  • Botswana Botswana (2023)
  • Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (2023)
  • Ivory Coast Cote d'Ivoire (2023)
  • Ghana Ghana (2019)
  • Kenya Kenya (2016)
  • Mozambique Mozambique (2023)
  • Nigeria Nigeria (2022)
  • Rwanda Rwanda (2022)
  • Sierra Leone Sierra Leone (2023)
  • South Africa South Africa (2021)
  • Togo Togo (2023)
  • Uganda Uganda (2011)
  • Zambia Zambia (2023)
  • Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (2023)

Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union (22)

The Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union (APLU) has 9 full members and 13 associate members.

  • Australia Australia (1974)
  • Bangladesh Bangladesh (2025)
  • Cambodia Cambodia (2022)
  • China China (2012)
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong (2002)
  • India India (2021)
  • Indonesia Indonesia (2021)
  • Iran Iran (2022)
  • Japan Japan (1990)
  • Malaysia Malaysia (2021)
  • New Zealand New Zealand (2002)
  • Pakistan Pakistan (2024)
  • Philippines Philippines (2014)
  • Qatar Qatar (2017)
  • Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (2021)
  • Singapore Singapore (2013)
  • South Korea South Korea (1995)
  • Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei (2014)
  • Thailand Thailand (2010)
  • Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (2023)
  • Vietnam Vietnam (2021)

European Lacrosse Federation (34)

The European Lacrosse Federation (ELF) has 26 full members and 8 associate members.

  • Austria Austria (2005)
  • Belgium Belgium (2009)
  • Bulgaria Bulgaria (2008)
  • Croatia Croatia (2016)
  • Czech Republic Czech Republic (1992)
  • Denmark Denmark (2003)
  • England England (1974)
  • Estonia Estonia (2013)
  • Finland Finland (2004)
  • France France (2008)
  • Germany Germany (1994)
  • Greece Greece (2017)
  • Hungary Hungary (2011)
  • Republic of Ireland Ireland (2002)
  • Israel Israel (2005)
  • Italy Italy (2003)
  • Latvia Latvia (2004)
  • Lithuania Lithuania (2019)
  • Luxembourg Luxembourg (2017)
  • Malta Malta (2023)
  • Netherlands Netherlands (2004)
  • Norway Norway (2008)
  • Poland Poland (2008)
  • Portugal Portugal (2008)
  • Russia Russia (2011)
  • Scotland Scotland (1995)
  • Serbia Serbia (2010)
  • Slovakia Slovakia (2004)
  • Slovenia Slovenia (2005)
  • Spain Spain (2004)
  • Sweden Sweden (1994)
  • Switzerland Switzerland (2008)
  • Turkey Türkiye (2010)
  • Ukraine Ukraine (2018)
  • Wales Wales (1995)

Pan-American Lacrosse Association (22)

The Pan-American Lacrosse Association (PALA) has 11 full members and 11 associate members.

  • Argentina Argentina (2002)
  • Barbados Barbados (2019)
  • Bermuda Bermuda (2006)
  • Brazil Brazil (2023)
  • Canada Canada (1974)
  • Chile Chile (2017)
  • Colombia Colombia (2013)
  • Costa Rica Costa Rica (2008)
  • Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (2020)
  • Ecuador Ecuador (2018)
  • Guatemala Guatemala (2010)
  • Haiti Haiti (2016)
  • Iroquois Haudenosaunee (1985)
  • Jamaica Jamaica (2013)
  • Mexico Mexico (2009)
  • Nicaragua Nicaragua (2022)
  • Panama Panama (2020)
  • Peru Peru (2012)
  • Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (2016)
  • United States United States (1974)
  • Uruguay Uruguay (2022)
  • United States Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands (2020)
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Awards

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Predecessor organizations

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International Lacrosse Federation

The International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) was founded in 1974 to promote and develop men's lacrosse throughout the world. Before 2008, the international governing bodies for men's and women's lacrosse were separate, which was one of the obstacles of lacrosse one day becoming an Olympic sport.[citation needed] In August 2008 in Lahti, Finland, the ILF and the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations merged to become the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL), that was formally established on 30 September 2008.[2]

ILF Founders: Thomas Hayes (USA) Don Hobbs (Australia) Laurie Turnbull (Australia) Nigel Wade (England)

The ILF conducted the World Lacrosse Championship, World Indoor Lacrosse Championship and the men's Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships, all of which were taken over by the FIL.

IFWLA

The International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) was formed in 1972 to promote and develop women's lacrosse throughout the world. It wound up its affairs in 2008 when it agreed to merge with the ILF to form the Federation of International Lacrosse.

Promoting all levels of lacrosse included IFWLA sponsorship of the Women's Lacrosse World Cup and the Women's Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships, tournaments taken over by the FIL.

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See also

References

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