OLYMPIC GAMES | SOCCER
What are the rules for soccer squads in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris? Who can play?
Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi are among the huge stars who will be cheering their countries on from afar.
In many sports, including swimming and athletics, winning an Olympic gold medal is seen as the pinnacle of a competitor’s career, particularly in individual events. Men’s soccer, however, doesn’t fit into that category, which is reflected in the rosters that have been selected for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Why aren’t Mbappé and Messi playing in the 2024 Olympic Games?
While France, Argentina and Spain will be taking part in the men’s tournament, star players such as Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Rodri will not.
Former Arsenal striker Alexander Lacazette is arguably the highest-profile player on the French team, Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada holds that status for the Argentines, while Barcelona teenager Pau Cubarsí is arguably the stand-out name for the Spanish.
What roster restrictions are there in the men’s Olympic soccer tournament?
Any country affiliated with FIFA is able to participate in the men’s Olympic tournament, although they are restricted to sending players who are aged 23 or younger at the start of the year, with the exception of three overage players.
The reason is to avoid qualified nations having to deal with schedule clashes when the World Cup or other continental tournaments such as the European Championship or Copa América are being played in the same year.
Who are the USA’s overage players?
As a result, the vast majority of players competing in the men’s soccer tournament in Paris were born on or after 1 January, 2001. Lacazette is in for France as an overage player, while Argentina have opted not to pick any.
For their part, the United States, who are in the same group as France, have named Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson and Djordje Mihailovic as their three overage players for the tournament.
Real Madrid stop Kylian Mbappé from playing in the 2024 Olympics
At one point, Mbappé suggested he would like to represent France on home soil, although it was reported that new club Real Madrid wouldn’t allow him to do so for fear of him being overworked.
Spain, meanwhile, have made the unusual decision to select two players, Barça’s Fermín López and Villarreal’s Alex Baena, who were in their Euro 2024 squad, although they barely played.
Are there any roster restrictions in the women’s Olympic soccer tournament?
There are no such restrictions for the women’s tournament, with World Cups taking place in odd numbered years, unlike the Olympics. Countries are therefore able to select full-strength rosters if they please, which has seen the likes of Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe all win Olympic gold medals over the years.