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Sports competitions between nations are having a bit of a moment, and lacrosse is the latest sport to try its hand at such an event, with the backing of ESPN. The Premier Lacrosse League, Women’s Lacrosse League, and National Lacrosse League are joining forces for the inaugural Lexus Global Lacrosse Games. The competition will see national teams from the United States, Canada, and Australia, along with the Haudenosaunee Nationals, facing off in both a men’s and women’s competition. The event will take place at The St. James outside Washington, D.C., from December 8 to December 13. The Haudenosaunee Nationals feature indigenous athletes from nations in the territory of the United States and Canada. Most importantly, the games will feature television coverage on ESPN, though a TV schedule will be revealed at a later date. All this is part of the run-up to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where lacrosse will be featured for the first time since it had a demonstration appearance in 1948. These international competitions have been on the rise, at least in the United States. The National Hockey League’s 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025 saw its championship game average 9.3 million viewers, the fourth-highest-rated telecast for an NHL event of all time. Then, the World Baseball Classic championship in March 2026 averaged 10.78 million viewers, the most-watched WBC game ever. Finally, the 2026 World Cup Final in July drew 66.4 million viewers, the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history. Lacrosse is a much more niche sport. The 2026 NCAA Men’s College Lacrosse Championship final averaged 778,000 viewers, which was a 13-year high. Professionally, the PLL’s 2025 championship between the Atlas and Outlaws averaged 385,000 viewers, the most-watched PLL championship ever. However, the NHL’s normal regular-season viewership is much lower than the 9.3 million viewers the 4 Nations drew. If promoted right, especially if the tournament receives over-the-air carriage on ABC, which the network already does for the PLL championship, this event could be intriguing for casual fans.