IOC boosts women's soccer teams to 16 for LA 2028 Games, men's teams down to 12

LAUSANNE, Switzerland :The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will feature an increase in women's soccer teams from 12 to 16, while the men's competition will be downsized from 16 to a dozen teams, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

The IOC said the reason for the change was the rapidly growing popularity of women's team sports, especially in the United States, and that change in the competition format reflected that rapid growth.

"We wanted to do something to reflect that growth and equally with the United States being the home of the highest level of popularity of women's football," IOC sports director Kit McConnell told a press conference.

He said the IOC had discussed the issue with both LA Games organisers and world soccer's governing body FIFA before going through with the changes.

The total number of players - men's and women's - would not change.

The United States, who will also host the 2026 men's and the 2031 women's World Cup, have won five Olympic gold medals in the women's competition.

The men's teams use mostly under-23 players at Olympic Games.