FIFA confirms roster changes for Olympic soccer
By ROB HARRIS and ANNE M. PETERSONJuly 1, 2021 GMT
FIFA has confirmed that Olympic soccer rosters can include 22 players, but only 18 can be available for individual matches.
Traditionally, Olympic rosters are 18 players and four alternates. The alternates can only be used in case of injury, and once replaced, a player cannot return.
The change means that all 22 players are available to the participating teams. It was implemented because of the challenges the coronavirus has posed to teams worldwide.
“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made official a more flexible approach towards the participation of the alternate athletes in the Olympic Football Tournaments Tokyo 2020. As a result, the Participating Member Associations will be entitled to reconstitute their teams ahead of every match,” FIFA said in a statement to The Associated Press.