FIFA has announced that Olympic soccer players who sustain minor injuries during the 2024 Paris Games can be temporarily replaced by an alternate and return to the official roster later in the tournament. This tweak was confirmed on Thursday, offering a new layer of strategy for coaches and teams.
Under the new rule, if the originally rostered player recovers, they can rejoin the 18-player squad, but only if they replace the initial alternate. Alternatively, they could take the spot of another injured player on the roster, ESPN confirmed with a FIFA spokesperson.
This development, coming just two weeks before the competition’s start, follows discussions by several managers, including United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes. It’s a notable shift from FIFA and the International Olympic Committee’s strict 18-player roster limit, a long-standing point of contention among players and coaches.
Historically, World Cup rosters allow for 23 players (26 at the 2022 men’s World Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic). However, this updated rule still provides less flexibility compared to the Tokyo Olympics, which allowed for a broader roster due to the pandemic-related postponement and restrictions.
This summer, an alternate can only replace one of the 18 rostered players for medical reasons, as verified by a FIFA medical team member. If an alternate steps into the 18-player gameday roster and the team lands on the podium, they will earn a medal. However, alternates who do not get called up will miss out on the hardware, adhering to the historical standard.
