FIFA’s disregard for player welfare in order to expand the Club World Cup has been criticized by Maheta Molango, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association. The governing body of football provided more information about the 32-team tournament scheduled for the summer of 2025 after a meeting of its ruling Council took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. However, the tournament’s size and scheduling have raised serious concerns among unions and leagues.
Molango stated that the decision to move forward with an expanded summer tournament, adding more games to an already packed fixture list, further emphasizes that any expression of concern for player welfare is simply a facade. He expressed his dismay, pointing out how players have become pawns in a power struggle between football’s governing bodies, with no one willing to collaborate in creating a sustainable calendar.
Additionally, World players’ union FIFPRO remains concerned that a dedicated player welfare task force, announced by FIFA in March, has not yet met or been assembled. The World Leagues Forum, an umbrella organization representing leagues and chaired by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, has also expressed its grievances to FIFA regarding the latest Club World Cup details. The group has accused FIFA of ignoring the interests of domestic competitions and overloading the calendar.
Both unions and leagues are concerned about the impact the tournament will have on player rest periods between seasons. FIFPRO has insisted that players should have a mandatory minimum off-season break of 28 days, excluding pre-season training. However, with the 2025 Club World Cup scheduled to finish on July 13, players involved in the final could be given as little as 27 days before the start of the next season.
While FIFA has argued that the Club World Cup is not an addition to the calendar, but simply replaces the Confederations Cup, the scheduling and format of the tournament remains a point of contention. Europe’s eight places in the 2025 tournament, including those reserved for the 2021 to 2024 Champions League winners, will be determined based on the UEFA coefficient ranking. Furthermore, FIFA has announced the introduction of a new Intercontinental Cup, which will debut in 2024. It involves the winners of the Champions League playing the continental champion team in the final at a neutral venue on December 18, 2024.
The launch of the Club World Cup and the ensuing debate over its impact on players and existing competitions highlight the ongoing battle for control and dominance in the world of football. The clash between the interests of different stakeholders, including national leagues, associations, and football’s governing bodies, has brought into question the priorities and decision-making processes within the sport. This controversy is likely to have far-reaching consequences, with implications not only for player welfare but also for the quality and sustainability of football tournaments in the future.