IOC want to make huge change that would transform football at LA28 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is pushing for a major change to football from the 2028 Olympics onwards.

Currently, men's teams are limited to three overage players in their squads, with the rest of the players being aged under 23 at the time of the selection process.

It is a different system in women's football, where there are no such age restrictions.

2024 Olympics winners United States, for instance, had nine players over the age of 23 in their starting XI for the final against Brazil, with Trinity Rodman and Korbin Shrader the exceptions.

Many men's nations chose not to select any overage players, with gold medalists Spain opting for an entire squad of players aged 23 or under.

The USWNT won gold in women's football at Paris 2024 (Image: Getty)

But the IOC want to scrap the age restriction for the LA28 Olympics, allowing nations to select any players that they want, as per InsideWorldFootball.

IOC want Olympics Football to resemble the World Cup

Speaking at LaLiga's headquarters in Madrid, IOC vice-president Juan Antonio Samaranch stated that the tournament should resemble more of a World Cup-style event.

"From FIFA's side, there are many demands regarding women's and seven-a-side football," Samaranch said.

"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."

However, the key reason behind many players being made unavailable for the Olympics was because of Euro 2024 - with the same scenario potentially taking place four years later ahead of LA28.

Le Parisien claimed that Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid blocked their players from being selected in France's squad by manager Thierry Henry, with William Saliba, Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann all made unavailable.

There is no such issue in place in the women's game, with no major tournament planned for the summer of 2028.

The inaugural Women's Club World Cup is due to be held in January 2028, though there have been major concerns surrounding player workloads which could have a knock-on effect on Olympics selection.

SPORTbible have contacted the International Olympic Committee for further comment.