FIFA is exploring the possibility of restricting the women's Olympic soccer tournament to an under-23 format, according to a report from The Athletic. The proposal would align the women's competition with the men's Olympic tournament, which has operated under an under-23 rule with three overage exceptions since 1992.
The report, authored by Dan Sheldon, Jessica Hopkins and colleagues, indicates that football's global governing body has shown interest in implementing the age restriction for future Olympic Games. Currently, the women's Olympic tournament features full senior national teams without age limitations, unlike the men's competition.
Any change to the Olympic format would require approval from the International Olympic Committee and consultation with continental confederations. The women's tournament has been contested by senior sides since its introduction at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
