Olympic soccer is bracing for change, as FIFA is reportedly pushing the IOC to convert its expanded 16-team women’s tournament into an U-23 event.
Football’s governing body cites the women’s game’s increasingly crowded calendar. FIFA aims to lighten workloads for top club and national team stars.
The move mirrors the men’s side’s 1992 shift. The IOC began permitting each team to roster an additional three senior players in 1996.
Pushback is expected, as the Olympics considers women’s soccer one its premier events — especially for five-time gold medalist Team USA.
While UEFA’s Euros cycle alternates with the World Cup, other federations have fewer opportunities to experience top-flight competition.
With the 2028 LA Games already scheduled, Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics serves as the earliest possible switch to a U-23 format.
