April 10, 2025 — FIFA has welcomed a landmark decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board to approve a proposal that will see 16 women’s teams and 12 men’s teams participate in the Olympic Football Tournaments at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28). This pivotal move marks a historic moment for women’s football and underscores the growing global commitment to elevating women’s sport.
The increase in the number of women’s teams—up from the current 12—reflects a shared vision between FIFA, the IOC, and the LA28 Organizing Committee to expand opportunities, visibility, and representation for women in sport. It also continues the momentum generated by the expansion of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, which grew from 24 to 32 teams in 2023, delivering record engagement and spotlighting new talent from across the globe.
“FIFA has always believed in the power of women’s football and today’s decision by the IOC Executive Board is a positive step,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Our vision is clear: we are investing in and expanding opportunities for women’s football at every level. More teams on the Olympic stage means more role models, more inspiration and more impact.”
He added, “This development reflects our shared understanding that women’s football deserves greater representation and visibility at the Olympic Games. We thank the IOC for the fruitful discussions that will make LA28 a groundbreaking event, and we will continue to work with our partners to incorporate futsal and beach soccer into the Olympic programme.”
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström also hailed the decision, stating: “FIFA has been working on the increase in women’s teams at the Olympics for some time. On behalf of FIFA, I would like to thank the IOC administration for their collaboration with us over the past months to prepare this groundbreaking decision. We are very pleased with the outcome but, of course, we will continue with fully commitment our daily and sustained work across all relevant areas of the women’s game including competitions, technical and the regulatory landscape to unlock the undeniable potential it has everywhere in the world.”
FIFA had previously made a formal request to increase the number of women’s teams ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as part of its Strategic Objectives for the Global Game: 2023-2027. This vision includes Goal 7, which calls for creating more opportunities for women and girls at every level of the sport.
With this decision, the LA28 Olympic Games are set to become a milestone event in the advancement of women’s football, offering more players, nations, and fans the chance to participate in and witness the growing impact of the women’s game on the world stage.
