Team GB fielded a women's football team for the London 2012 Olympics.GETTY IMAGES
The Home Nations FAs agreed to allow a British women’s team to try to qualify for Tokyo 2020, FIFA confirmed, according to the PA. Team GB "has traditionally not competed in Olympic football tournaments because of fears it could tempt FIFA" to force England, North Ireland, Scotland and Wales to compete as a U.K. team permanently. These concerns "were put aside, though, for London 2012," when a men’s team took part for the first time since '72 and a women’s team competed for the first time. But with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales "still opposed to playing as a combined British team," no agreement was reached to enter teams for Rio 2016. FIFA "has always said it would sanction a British Olympic team," provided the FA, Irish FA, Scottish FA and FA of Wales "all agreed to it." After "much cajoling" by the British Olympic Association, that agreement was reached, "but only for a women’s team." In a statement from the Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions, FIFA said that it "received written confirmation" from the four FAs "confirming their desire to see a British women’s team in Tokyo" (PA, 10/1).
