FIFA wants talks on limiting women's Olympic football to under-23s

FIFA, football's world governing body, wants talks with the International Olympic Committee about restricting the Olympic women's tournament to players under 23. The Guardian reported the move on 5 November 2026.

FIFA's concern is workload. It is worried about fixture congestion, the packed schedule of matches that leaves top players with too many games and too little rest. An age limit would mean fewer senior stars taking part.

No formal proposal has been made yet. Sources at FIFA and the IOC have said both bodies are open to dialogue on the idea. Both organisations declined to comment on the talks themselves.

The men's Olympic tournament has used an under-23 limit since 1992. Since 1996, each men's squad has been allowed three players over that age. Women's football joined the Olympics at Atlanta in 1996 with no age rules at all.

The timing matters for the next Games. The eligibility rules for women's football at Los Angeles 2028 are already set, and qualifying has begun in some regions. According to the Guardian, no change to women's Olympic eligibility can be made until Brisbane 2032 at the earliest.

The Los Angeles women's event will also be larger than the men's, with 16 teams against 12. It will be the first time the women's tournament has been bigger.

The calendar is busy in the run-up. FIFA plans a 16-team Women's Club World Cup in the United States from 5 to 30 January, about six months before the Los Angeles Games. For players who go from club duty to national duty, that is a lot of football in a short space of time.

The idea is not new. In August 2024, a Guardian article suggested making the women's Olympic tournament an under-23 event with three over-age players, the same format as the men's. In April 2025, FIFA said it was involved in talks with the IOC about the format of the Olympic football tournament, as FIFA stated at the time.

For fans, the practical point is simple. Whatever comes out of these talks, the rules for Los Angeles 2028 are already fixed. Any change would have to wait for the Games after that, and nothing has been agreed.