IOC wants to lose U23 restriction of men’s Olympic football and boost number of nations competing

The Olympics would like its men’s football tournament to be “closer” to FIFA’s World Cup, according to International Olympic Committee vice president Juan Antonio Samaranch.

Speaking at LaLiga’s headquarters in Madrid, he said that discussions with FIFA were already underway and that they were confident this could happen.

“From FIFA’s side, there are many demands regarding women’s and seven-a-side football. We also want the senior men’s competition to resemble the World Cup more closely. Both organisations have their own objectives, but I believe we will make significant progress in achieving them,” said Samaranch.

Olympic football, and especially the men’s tournament, generally feels like the poor relation in the Olympic family and at their games. The IOC wants to upgrade the competition as it sees football as a route to raising revenues.

Football leads in terms of economic impact and ticket sales. “Football is the biggest sport,” said Samaranch.

At LA28 the men’s tournament will be reduced from 16 to 12 teams, while the women’s tournament will be increased from 12 to 16 teams.

The men’s tournament is played as an under-23 competition with three over-age players allowed. The IOC would like to see the age category dropped in favour of full national teams, and more nations added.

However, LaLiga president Javier Tebas, also speaking at the event, said that raising the profile and importance of men’s football at the Olympics would “further overload the calendar, reduce clubs’ revenues and affect players’ rest”.

Tebas said the tournament “is fine as it is, it should not be like a World Cup.”