World Lacrosse
World Lacrosse is the IOC-recognized international governing body for lacrosse, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It serves 97 national federations across five continents, governs playing rules, and will oversee lacrosse's return to the Olympic Games in 2028.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersColorado Springs, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What World Lacrosse does
World Lacrosse, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the sole international governing body for lacrosse, recognized by the International Olympic Committee since 2021. Formed in 2008 through the merger of the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Association (founded 1972) and the International Lacrosse Federation (founded 1974), the federation was originally named the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) and rebranded as World Lacrosse in 2019. It serves 97 national member federations across five continental regions (Asia-Pacific Lacrosse Union, European Lacrosse Federation, Pan-American Lacrosse Association, and Africa Association of Lacrosse), providing playing rules for field, box, Sixes, wheelchair, and mixed lacrosse; anti-doping program management delivered via the International Testing Agency under WADA standards; and a unified governance forum through its General Assembly and Board of Directors staffed by an 8-12 person professional team.
Its product portfolio comprises six quadrennial world championships (Men's Field, Women's Field, Men's U20, Women's U20, Box, and Sixes) — with Sixes established in 2018 as the chosen format for the 2028 LA Olympic Games — alongside the WL TV streaming platform, the Thinkific-powered Virtual Training Center for coach and official certification, and four grant programs supporting federation development, emerging members, BCH youth development, and instructional clinics. World Lacrosse generates revenue through multi-year sponsorship and licensing partnerships (Nike as official apparel/footwear through 2028, Jet Set Sports for ticketing/hospitality through 2028, Gilman Gear for goals, Hatteras for print/signage, plus merchandise partners such as Athlete's Performance), recurring membership subscriptions from 97 national federations, event ticketing and broadcast rights, and content monetization via WL TV. Distribution is event-driven, with continental federations coordinating regional qualification pathways and flagship events concentrated in the 2026-2028 Olympic lead-up, including the Nissin Foods 2026 Women's Championship in Tokyo and the 2027 Men's Championship in Japan.
World Lacrosse firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- World Lacrosse
- Legal name
- World Lacrosse
- Website
- https://worldlacrosse.sport
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- World Lacrosse is the IOC-recognized international governing body for lacrosse, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It serves 97 national federations across five continents, governs playing rules, and will oversee lacrosse's return to the Olympic Games in 2028.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
World Lacrosse industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Sport Federation / Sport Governance
- NAICS
- Spectator Sports (71121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Lacrosse Leagues (MPAKAAAO)
Keywords
Where World Lacrosse is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Colorado Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
World Lacrosse business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: Multi-year partnerships with major brands including Nike (official footwear and apparel partner through 2028), Jet Set Sports (official ticket and hospitality provider), Gilman Gear (official goal supplier), Hatteras (official print and signage supplier), and others providing commercial revenue through co-branded products, event activation, and digital integration.
- Event Revenue: Revenue from hosting world championships including ticketing, broadcast rights, and event operations. Six world championships are hosted on a quadrennial basis: men's field, women's field, men's U20 field, women's U20 field, box (men/women), and sixes (men/women).
- Membership Fees: National federations pay membership subscriptions to be part of World Lacrosse. The organization has 97 member federations across four continental federations.
- Broadcasting and Digital Content: WL TV streaming platform provides digital content from championships and events, generating viewership and potential broadcast revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Event Pass - Full 10-day championship access |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Single Day Pass - Oi Stadium |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Single Day Pass - Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
World Lacrosse product offering
Product offeringCore offering
World Lacrosse is the international governing body for lacrosse, providing global sport governance, hosting six quadrennial world championships (Men's Field, Women's Field, Men's U20, Women's U20, Box, and Sixes), and delivering athlete/coach/official development programs for its 97 national member federations across five continents. The organization drives Olympic-readiness through its Sixes discipline, the WL TV streaming platform, grant-funded development support, and delegated anti-doping management through the International Testing Agency.
Product overview
World Lacrosse is the international governing body for lacrosse, operating as a federation rather than a traditional product company. The organization provides a portfolio of championship events (six world championships on a quadrennial basis: Men's Field, Women's Field, Men's U20, Women's U20, Box Championships, and Sixes Championships), a streaming platform (WL TV), an educational platform (Virtual Training Center via Thinkific), and development services including grant programs and coaching/officiating resources. The portfolio centers on event management, athlete development, and sport governance rather than a unified software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- World Lacrosse Women's Championship Flagship quadrennial world championship for women's field lacrosse, featuring top national teams competing for the world title. Open to national federations and ticketing fans via Oi Stadium and Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo.
- World Lacrosse Men's Championship Flagship quadrennial world championship for men's field lacrosse, featuring top national teams competing for the world title.
- World Lacrosse U20 Championships Under-20 world championships for both men's and women's field lacrosse, developing the next generation of elite international players.
- World Lacrosse Box Championships World championships for box (indoor) lacrosse for both men and women, contested on a quadrennial basis.
- World Lacrosse Sixes Championships World championships for the Sixes discipline (6v6 compact lacrosse format) for both men and women, serving as the primary Olympic qualification pathway ahead of LA28.
- WL TV Streaming Platform Digital streaming platform operated by World Lacrosse that broadcasts live and on-demand championship content globally to fans and partners.
- Virtual Training Center Online learning platform powered by Thinkific offering courses for athletes, coaches, and officials to develop skills and obtain certifications in lacrosse, including the Competition Manipulation and Safeguarding courses.
- Grant Programs Four grant programs supporting member nations and emerging lacrosse countries: Continental/National Federation Development Grants, Emerging Member Support Grants, BCH Youth Development Grants, and Instructional Clinic Grants.
Quantifiable outcome
- Lacrosse participation grew from 45 to 90+ National Federations over two decades
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use World Lacrosse
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
World Lacrosse technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
World Lacrosse partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- HatterascorePartnership designates Hatteras as Official Print and Signage Supplier. Based in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, USA. Supports print and signage needs at championships and day-to-day printing and collateral needs. Includes digital integration across World Lacrosse's owned digital channels including WL TV.
- Gilman GearcoreMulti-year partnership through 2028 designating Gilman as Official Goal of World Lacrosse. Gilman Gear lacrosse goals exclusively used in competition across premier championship events including WL Women's Championship (Tokyo 2026), Men's Championship (Japan 2027), Sixes Championships (2027), and Box Championships (2028).
- Jet Set SportscoreMulti-year partnership designating Jet Set Sports as Official Ticket and Hospitality Provider through 2028. Jet Set Sports designs, sells, and delivers premium ticketing, ground transportation, accommodations, hospitality, and experience packages for World Lacrosse's global event portfolio.
- Nike LacrosseflagshipExclusive multi-year global partnership designating Nike as official footwear and apparel partner through 2028. Nike provides apparel and footwear at championship events and offers co-branded products for sale globally.
- Athlete's Performance (ATPS)minorOfficial partner storefront for World Lacrosse merchandise and products.
- PearlminorPartner brand shown on World Lacrosse partners page.
- Premier Lacrosse League (PLL)coreNike partnership covers PLL as official apparel partner for the league. PLL co-founder Paul Rabil stated partnership will accelerate growth and exposure for lacrosse athletes across North America. PLL features eight teams.
- Women's Lacrosse League (WLL)coreNike partnership covers WLL as official apparel partner for the women's professional league. WLL features four teams.
- International Testing Agency (ITA)coreDelegates management of anti-doping program to the International Testing Agency. Implements WADA's anti-doping policies and procedures including the Code, five International Standards, and Whereabouts Information.
- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)flagshipWorld Lacrosse is a full supporter of WADA and has adopted WADA's anti-doping policies and procedures for all events. Full support includes use of the WADA Code, five International Standards, and Whereabouts Information.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
World Lacrosse competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Handball Federation (IHF): IHF is the IF for handball, an Olympic sport with men's and women's World Championships on a biennial cycle. Comparable to World Lacrosse as a mid-sized IF running multi-discipline world championships and competing for IOC attention alongside emerging Olympic sports.
- International Hockey Federation (FIH): FIH is the international federation for field hockey. It is an IOC-recognized IF with a quadrennial World Cup cycle (men's and women's), national federation membership, Olympic participation, and a similar mission of governing rules, hosting championships, and developing the sport globally — directly comparable in structure and scope to World Lacrosse.
- World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC): WBSC is the IF for baseball and softball, also IOC-recognized and recently returned to the Olympics (Tokyo 2020). Similar to World Lacrosse in using the Olympics as a re-entry platform and in operating quadrennial world championships across multiple disciplines.
- Lacrosse Canada: Lacrosse Canada is the Canadian national federation for lacrosse, a fellow member of World Lacrosse. Comparable in running national-level championships, development programs, and serving as a key member federation feeding into World Lacrosse's international competition pipeline.
- USA Lacrosse: USA Lacrosse is the US national governing body for lacrosse and a member federation of World Lacrosse. Directly comparable as a national federation counterpart, running domestic championships, coaching certification, and development programs that parallel World Lacrosse's international offerings.
Broad incumbents
- World Rugby: World Rugby is the international federation for rugby union and sevens. Like World Lacrosse, it is an IF recognized by the IOC, operates a portfolio of world championships and Rugby World Cups on a multi-year cycle, and secured Olympic inclusion for sevens — making it the closest structural analog for a niche-sport IF leveraging Olympics for growth.
- International Cricket Council (ICC): The ICC is the global governing body for cricket, an IF managing a multi-format sport (Test, ODI, T20) with quadrennial World Cups and Olympic inclusion via T20. Comparable to World Lacrosse in governing a multi-discipline sport with a compact format (T20/Sixes) created to drive accessibility and Olympic relevance.
- International Skating Union (ISU): ISU is the IF for figure skating, speed skating, and ice hockey-adjacent disciplines, with quadrennial World Championships and Olympic Winter Games participation. Comparable as a multi-discipline IF with strong IOC ties, recurring championship cycles, and an emphasis on rules standardization across disciplines.
Regional players
- Premier Lacrosse League (PLL): PLL is the US-based men's professional lacrosse league with eight teams. While not an IF, it is the top professional lacrosse ecosystem in North America and a key partner of World Lacrosse via the Nike sponsorship — directly influencing elite player pipelines that feed national teams competing in World Lacrosse championships.
- National Lacrosse League (NLL): NLL is the North American professional box lacrosse league and the primary competitive ecosystem for the box discipline that World Lacrosse governs internationally. Comparable as the highest-level professional box lacrosse competition and a stakeholder in World Lacrosse's box championship strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
World Lacrosse social profiles
Digital presenceWorld Lacrosse financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
World Lacrosse leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
World Lacrosse funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
World Lacrosse M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about World Lacrosse
What does World Lacrosse do?
World Lacrosse is the international governing body for lacrosse, providing global sport governance, hosting six quadrennial world championships (Men's Field, Women's Field, Men's U20, Women's U20, Box, and Sixes), and delivering athlete/coach/official development programs for its 97 national member federations across five continents. The organization drives Olympic-readiness through its Sixes discipline, the WL TV streaming platform, grant-funded development support, and delegated anti-doping management through the International Testing Agency.
Is World Lacrosse a public or private company?
World Lacrosse is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was World Lacrosse founded?
World Lacrosse was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is World Lacrosse based?
World Lacrosse is headquartered in Colorado Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does World Lacrosse make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue is the primary driver. The others are event Revenue, membership Fees and broadcasting and Digital Content.
Who are World Lacrosse's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Handball Federation (IHF), International Hockey Federation (FIH), World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), Lacrosse Canada and USA Lacrosse. Broad incumbents are World Rugby, International Cricket Council (ICC) and International Skating Union (ISU). Regional players are Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and National Lacrosse League (NLL).
Does World Lacrosse have an API?
No public API is recorded for World Lacrosse.
What industry is World Lacrosse in?
World Lacrosse's product category is International Sport Federation / Sport Governance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAFAB, International Sport Federations (IFs), with a secondary code of MPAKAAAO, Lacrosse Leagues. Its NAICS code is 71121 and its SIC code is 8600.