The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy will showcase traditional winter sports like alpine skiing, figure skating, and ice hockey, but what about soccer?
Many fans wonder if the world’s most popular sport will ever find its place in the Winter Olympics lineup.
Over 3,500 athletes from 93 countries are set to compete for 195 medals across 16 Olympic disciplines in this XXV edition of Winter Olympics.
So mark your calendars for February 6-22, 2026, but don’t expect to see any soccer balls – just plenty of other thrilling winter sports action!
Why Soccer is not the part of the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Soccer is not part of the 2026 Winter Olympics and never has been included in any Winter Olympic Games. The Winter Olympics focus exclusively on ice and snow sports, from skiing and skating to curling and bobsledding. Soccer remains a Summer Olympics event, where it has been featured since 1900 (for men) and 1996 (for women).
The 2026 Winter Olympics will feature 116 medal events across 16 disciplines, with exciting additions like ski mountaineering making its Olympic debut. Ice hockey will be the closest thing soccer fans can enjoy, especially with NHL players returning to compete for the first time since 2014. The tournament promises to deliver the same passion and intensity that makes soccer so captivating.
While we won’t see Messi or Ronaldo battling it out on snowy pitches in Milan, soccer enthusiasts can look forward to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where the beautiful game will once again take center stage. Until then, the Winter Olympics offer their own brand of athletic excellence and drama that’s worth every minute of your attention.
