The proposal: More women’s teams in Olympic football-fewer men’s teams

It has been a discussion year after year.

Now the change can come if the International Football Association (FIFA) brings with it the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In the men’s Olympic tournament 16 teams participate in football. In the women’s twelve.

The men’s tournament has long been a U23 tournament. A-national team participates on the women’s side.

-Having an Olympic finals with twelve teams is not a good lottery key. I think women’s soccer and football in general deserve more teams in the Olympics, said Swedish women’s national team manager Marika Domanski Lyfors to DN as early as 2021.

– The ladies also have the very best teams in the world.

Now Fifa suggests one Increase to just 16 women’s teams. In order to appease the IOC, which unwillingly raises the total number of participants in the summer games, it is also proposed that the number of men’s teams be reduced to twelve.

-I think it’s the right way to go, says Swedish back star Magdalena Eriksson, who has taken two Olympic silver.

– It will be a much better tournament if there are at least 16 teams with, so you are not basically guaranteed quarterfinals just because you have made it to the tournament.

The change can increase Interest in Olympic football, Eriksson believes.

Federation captain Peter Gerhardsson agrees:

– It must be something for the Olympics to live on. Then, of course, the parts are added with load and so on. In the end, there is a maximum limit for the players.

– But if you want to keep the level of the Olympics, it is clear that you have to increase the number of teams.

He was already in the 1996 Olympics, then as a scout for the women’s team.

– Since then, almost nothing has happened. So this is welcome, if you want the women’s Olympic football to be a big and important tournament.

– The risk is that it drops compared to both the European Championships, the World Cup and the Nations League.

The next Olympics will be decided in Los Angeles, 2028.

At the same time, there may be fewer men’s teams in the games is « logical », says Gerhardsson.

– It is somewhere also a question of justice.

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