The international players’ union sees players in top-level football being exposed to ever greater stress – in Germany this is currently particularly true for Jonathan Tah.
In projections including the World Cup, FIFPRO assumes that goalkeeper David Raya and midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who both play for Arsenal and Spain’s national team, will make 83 appearances in the 2025/26 season after the World Cup. These are the effects of the expansion of the Champions League and the World Cup, and two cup competitions are also being held in England.
David Raya, goalkeeper for Arsenal FC, in the game against Fulham
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool/England) and Declan Rice (Arsenal/England) will also scratch the 80 game mark. A German national player from the Bundesliga also ends up in eighth place in this ranking: the union sees a record of 76 games for Jonathan Tah from Bayern Munich. He is more in demand in the national team than his colleagues from the Premier League. It was assumed that the respective national teams would reach the final rounds of the World Cup.
“Phil Foden is one of the victims of this crazy calendar”
Maheta Motango, who heads the PFA in England, said at a FIFPRO media briefing: “The health and well-being of the players is at risk and with it the quality of the game.” With a view to the World Cup, it is no longer about who the best players are. “It’s about survival of the fittest.”
He gave Phil Foden as an example. In 2024 he was England’s Player of the Year. Since then he has had repeated injury problems and has now been left out of England’s World Cup squad. “It wasn’t the Phil Foden we saw two years ago. He is one of the victims of this crazy calendar”said Motango. The load is only partly about the number of games. Simply being appointed to a squad involves a journey, often across several time zones. That accounts for a large part of the burden.
Manchester City’s Phil Foden
The players are aware that they are privileged people, said Motango. “Nobody is asking for pity. But everyone needs a summer break, whether they’re a millionaire or not.” The consequence that Motango predicts: At some point, players start choosing games. “Then the cherry-picking begins. They may skip games for their national team or take a break from games in their national leagues.”
Regulations to protect players are required
Since 2024, the men’s football calendar has been massively expanded. UEFA expanded the Champions League by four dates. FIFA introduced the Club World Cup and took away a summer off from players. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams and therefore to include a round of 16.
“People’s working hours are regulated in European law”said Alexander Bielefeld, Director of Global Policy and Strategy at FIFPRO, “We need someone to enforce this.” FIFPRO, together with the European league association, which also organizes the Bundesliga, has lodged a complaint with the EU Commission against FIFA. FIFPRO and the league alliance are demanding more say in the calendar.
FIFA recently replied that it was trying to take all interests into account and, with regard to UEFA’s expansion of the Champions League, criticized the fact that it was the only one being addressed. FIFPRO pointed out that FIFA regulates world football.
FIFPRO
FIFPRO is a global players’ union. The umbrella organization of trade unions has 71 national unions, 35 of which are from Europe. These include influential unions such as those from England or France. But not every country has a players’ union and not every players’ union is a member of FIFPRO. The German union VDV is not organized in FIFPRO because there was a dispute over the handling of players’ personal rights in commercial terms – for example in video games. Other unions are not included because they do not meet certain FIFPRO requirements. As a result, the Brazilian union of the “big” football nations is not a FIFPRO member.
FIFPRO with a bad relationship with FIFA
There have long been fears in the background that FIFA could introduce a two-year rhythm for the Club World Cup. An expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams is already officially under discussion.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino
The relationship between FIFPRO and FIFA has recently become increasingly worse. FIFA has held discussions on player welfare on several occasions without taking FIFPRO into account. FIFA openly accused FIFPRO of “divisive behavior”. At one such meeting, FIFA itself proposed initial measures, including a minimum 72-hour break between games and a guaranteed 21-day break in the summer.
Notice
On Google, current news boxes often appear next to the search results. Those who choose Sportschau as their preferred source will more often see independent, ad-free and in-depth sports journalism there. Now add Sportschau as your preferred source here.
