 | |
| Sport | Lacrosse |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | International |
| Membership | 94 (2025) |
| Founded | 30 September 2008; 17 years ago (2008-09-30) |
| Affiliation | ARISF,IWGA,GAISF |
| Headquarters | Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States |
| President | Sue Redfern[1] |
| CEO | Jim Scherr |
| Vice president | Steve Stenersen |
| (founded) | IFWLA (1972) ILF (1974) |
| Official website | |
| worldlacrosse | |
World Lacrosse (WL), formerly theFederation of International Lacrosse, is the international governing body oflacrosse, responsible for themen's,women's, andindoor 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 inColorado Springs, Colorado, United States.[3]
World Lacrosse has 92 members.[4] It is the only international sport organization to recognizeFirst Nations bands andNative American tribes as sovereign nations.[citation needed] The Haudenosaunee Nationals of theFirst Nations Lacrosse Association represent theHaudenosaunee people of New York and Ontario.
World Lacrosse was given provisional recognition status by theInternational 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 the2022 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 orEuropean Lacrosse Federation events would be held in Russia.[7]
World Lacrosse organizes the following tournaments:
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States (USA) | 36 | 8 | 5 | 49 |
| 2 |  Canada (CAN) | 10 | 20 | 11 | 41 |
| 3 |  Australia (AUS) | 3 | 14 | 13 | 30 |
| 4 |  Haudenosaunee(HAU) | 0 | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| 5 |  England (ENG) | 0 | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| 6 |  Japan (JPN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Scotland (SCO) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (7 entries) | 49 | 49 | 49 | 147 | |
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
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 initalics.[9]
TheAfrican Association of Lacrosse (AAL) has 2 full members and 13 associate members.
Benin (2023)
Botswana (2023)
Burkina Faso (2023)
Cote d'Ivoire (2023)
Ghana (2019)
Kenya (2016)
Mozambique (2023)
Nigeria (2022)
Rwanda (2022)
Sierra Leone (2023)
South Africa (2021)
Togo (2023)
Uganda (2011)
Zambia (2023)
Zimbabwe (2023)TheAsia Pacific Lacrosse Union (APLU) has 9 full members and 13 associate members.
Australia (1974)
Bangladesh (2025)
Cambodia (2022)
China (2012)
Hong Kong (2002)
India (2021)
Indonesia (2021)
Iran (2022)Japan (1990)
Malaysia (2021)
New Zealand (2002)
Pakistan (2024)
Philippines (2014)
Qatar (2017)
Saudi Arabia (2021)
Singapore (2013)
South Korea (1995)
Chinese Taipei (2014)
Thailand (2010)
Uzbekistan (2023)
Vietnam (2021)TheEuropean Lacrosse Federation (ELF) has 26 full members and 8 associate members.
Austria (2005)
Belgium (2009)
Bulgaria (2008)
Croatia (2016)
Czech Republic (1992)
Denmark (2003)England (1974)
Estonia (2013)
Finland (2004)
France (2008)
Germany (1994)
Greece (2017)
Hungary (2011)
Ireland (2002)
Israel (2005)
Italy (2003)
Latvia (2004)
Lithuania (2019)
Luxembourg (2017)
Malta (2023)
Netherlands (2004)
Norway (2008)
Poland (2008)
Portugal (2008)
Russia (2011)Scotland (1995)
Serbia (2010)
Slovakia (2004)
Slovenia (2005)
Spain (2004)
Sweden (1994)
Switzerland (2008)
Türkiye (2010)
Ukraine (2018)
Wales (1995)ThePan-American Lacrosse Association (PALA) has 11 full members and 11 associate members.
Argentina (2002)
Barbados (2019)
Bermuda (2006)
Brazil (2023)Canada (1974)
Chile (2017)
Colombia (2013)
Costa Rica (2008)
Dominican Republic (2020)
Ecuador (2018)
Guatemala (2010)
Haiti (2016)Haudenosaunee (1985)
Jamaica (2013)
Mexico (2009)
Nicaragua (2022)
Panama (2020)
Peru (2012)
Puerto Rico (2016)
United States (1974)
Uruguay (2022)
U.S. Virgin Islands (2020)| Name | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Laurie Turnbull | Australia | 1974 |
| Jack Wilkinson | England | 1978 |
| Buzzy Budnitz | USA | 1982 |
| Marshall Spence | Canada | 1986 |
| Margaret Boyd | England | 1989 |
| Jane Vache | USA | 1989 |
| Clive Carr | Australia | 1990 |
| Elizabeth Blaydes | England | 1993 |
| Jackie Pitts | USA | 1993 |
| Stan Smith | England | 1994 |
| Lanetta Ware | USA | 2001 |
| Tom Hayes | USA | 2002 |
| Peter Hobbs | Australia | 2008 |
| Feffie Barnhill | USA | 2009 |
| Fiona Clark | Australia | 2009 |
| Susie Ganzenmuller | USA | 2009 |
| Marge Garinger | USA | 2009 |
| Sue Redfern | England | 2009 |
| Stan Cockerton | Canada | 2017 |
| Shelley Maher | Australia | 2017 |
| Sources:[10][11] | ||
TheInternational 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 anOlympic sport.[citation needed] In August 2008 inLahti, 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 theWorld Lacrosse Championship,World Indoor Lacrosse Championship and the men'sUnder-19 World Lacrosse Championships, all of which were taken over by the FIL.
TheInternational Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) was formed in 1972 to promote and developwomen'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 theWomen's Lacrosse World Cup and the Women'sUnder-19 World Lacrosse Championships, tournaments taken over by the FIL.
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