Team GB aims for gold in LA 2028

National football associations are collaborating to establish a men's football team for the Olympics, mirroring the success of the women's team, which recently missed qualification for the Paris Games. The last time a Team GB men's football squad participated was 60 years ago, under the leadership of Stuart Pearce and captain Ryan Giggs. Andy Anson, chief executive of the British Olympic Association (BOA), expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative, emphasizing its potential benefits for football and youth engagement. Anson highlighted the importance of cooperation among the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to make this vision a reality. He believes that the visibility of a men's team competing on an international stage would be a significant boost for the sport. The BOA is also optimistic about garnering support from cricket's governing bodies, aiming to replicate the successful collaboration seen in other professional sports like golf and tennis. The BOA is actively working with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to establish a unified national governing body for cricket, similar to arrangements in other sports. Anson commended the recent improvements in rowing and athletics, while noting boxing's performance dip as a temporary issue. He also pointed out the potential of emerging sports, mentioning that the women's lacrosse team ranks among the top three globally, and both men's and women's squash players are in the top ten worldwide.