- Team GB leaders keen to enter men’s football team for 2028 Olympics
- Great Britain has only competed in the men’s tournament at the Games once since 1960
- Andy Anson revealed that discussions will be held with several FAs over the matter
Team GB wants to field a men’s football team at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Great Britain has only appeared in the men’s tournament at the Games once since 1960, when it hosted in 2012.
The football associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have previously expressed concerns that competing with England as a single entity would jeopardise their independence in future FIFA and UEFA tournaments.
However, there is a sense that the risk has diminished as FIFA has no plans to reduce the number of member states and Team GB wants to take advantage of this.
“It’s something I would very much like to do,” said Andy Anson, chief executive of the British Olympic Association.
Team GB wants to enter a men’s football team for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
Andy Anson, chief executive of the British Olympic Association, has indicated that he wants to enter a team
‘I would like to work with the Football Association of England and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Football Associations to see if we can make this happen.
“I think it would be great for football, for youth football and football in general. I think it would be great to see the women’s team compete, and I would love to see the men’s team compete in the same way.”
The women’s tournament at the Olympics is a senior competition, while the men’s tournament is a section for players under 23. Each team is allowed to enter three players over 18.
Team GB qualified for a women’s team at Tokyo 2020 but missed out on a place at Paris 2024 after Great Britain’s nominated nation England failed to finish top of their Nations League group.
Team GB also brings together several national governing bodies in sports such as rugby sevens and hockey, and will have to do so in cricket when it returns to the Olympics in 2028.
Spain left Paris with a gold medal after beating France 5-3 in the final after extra time
“We have had good experience with the way the four countries come together and nominate one country as the main governing body and then work with the other countries,” Anson added.
“I think cricket will be the same. The ECB will be central to that. They will have to work with Cricket Scotland to make sure that gets done right.
“We will help them sign agreements to come together and create one national umbrella organisation, as we have done in other sports.
‘But we are currently working very closely with the ECB to make them full members of the national Olympic committee.’