FIFA has extended the age limit for the men’s football tournament at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The amended Olympic rule on Friday retains the “players born on or after Jan 1, 1997” standard for the Tokyo Games following a one-year postponement agreed last week by the International Olympic Committee and Japanese authorities.
It means players eligible for the intended under-23 tournament in 2020 can still play in Japan at age 24 next year. Men’s football kicks off ahead of the July 23, 2021 opening ceremony in Tokyo.
The Olympic decision was made by a FIFA panel of football officials worldwide, created to address the football shutdown during the health crisis.
The 16 men’s teams at the Tokyo Olympics next year can also select three over-age players in their rosters. A stellar lineup includes Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany and Spain.