FIFA eyes under-23 limit for women's Olympic football, not before LA 2028

What FIFA is considering

FIFA is interested in restricting the women's Olympic football tournament to players aged 23 or under, according to sources who spoke to The New York Times on condition of anonymity. Women's football currently has no age limit at the Games, whereas the men's tournament allows three overage players per squad, with the rest aged 23 or under. The Guardian reported that FIFA wants the International Olympic Committee to make the change, citing concerns over fixture congestion and the workload of senior players. No formal proposal has been made and no timeline has been set. Any move would require careful consideration with players, national associations and other stakeholders.

When a change could apply

Any change would not affect the Los Angeles Games in 2028, because the eligibility criteria are already set and qualification has started in some regions. The Guardian said no change could come before Brisbane 2032 at the earliest. For editions beyond Los Angeles, FIFA wants to examine the idea further with the IOC, and sources at both bodies told the Guardian they are open to dialogue. The timeline below traces the rules and milestones behind the proposal.

Background on the age rules

Football joined the Olympic programme in 1908, but the IOC did not permit professionals to take part until 1984, partly because of FIFA's insistence on keeping the World Cup as the sport's main event. Under pressure from FIFA, the IOC introduced an under-23 restriction for men in 1992, and since 1996 three overage players have been allowed in each squad. Women's football made its Olympic debut at Atlanta in 1996 as an amateur sport with no eligibility requirements. The Guardian said women's football holds major commercial appeal for the IOC in markets such as the United States, Europe and Australia, so the committee may resist FIFA's overtures.

Squads and the Paris 2024 medallists

The United States won gold in Paris 2024 with only five of its 18 squad members aged 23 or under, and only two of its four reserves would have made the cut under the proposal. According to the German agency DPA, Germany's bronze medal squad had four of its 18 players aged 23 or under. The United States has won five of the eight Olympic titles contested so far, according to The Guardian. The same paper said a change could provoke a backlash from leading international players, since the Olympics is regarded as one of the highlights of the women's calendar.

United States, of 18 squad members5

Germany, of 18 squad members4

United States, of 18 squad members

5 players

Germany, of 18 squad members

4 players

Data from the article text

Calendar pressure and the Club World Cup

Fixture congestion for senior players has become a growing problem in the women's game, and the proposal would reduce the number of matches for many. The Guardian argued that FIFA is to a large extent to blame, because it chose to launch the Women's Club World Cup in an Olympic year. The first edition of that 16-team tournament is scheduled for January 2028 in the United States, a few months before the Los Angeles Games. Its dates, announced in October 2026, sparked backlash because they fall mid-season in the Women's Super League. On this year's framework, the clubs involved could miss at least four league matchdays as well as the FA Cup fourth round, and a WSL Football spokesperson described the timing as "catastrophic" in an earlier statement. England and Arsenal defender Leah Williamson said in 2024 that the calendar was "not sustainable".