To protect strongly burdened professionals
© Imago
The FIFPro player union has again called for measures to protect heavily loaded footballers. In the season report on the workload 2024/25, among other things, it says: “The relentless expansion of overlapping competitions leads to unprecedented requirements and exposes the health and well -being of the players to a growing risk.”
In view of the increasingly full game calendar, the professionals are becoming increasingly difficult to recover appropriately. According to the data analyzed by the union, the short break for participants in the club world championship was a special problem this summer.
For example, doctors would recommend a vacation between the seasons of at least four weeks without training, team trips or media obligations. This break would not have existed for the examined club World Cup participants, including FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. In addition, the preparation time before the game was resumed was too short.
XXL-WM 2026 with 48 teams shortly after Champions League final
“This report underlines the urgent need for more balanced competition calendars in connection with the implementation of minimum protection regulations, protected resting and recreational phases and a sensible dialogue between the decision-makers of the industry,” writes FIFPro President Sergio Marchi.
For the top players of many nations, the coming summer will not be relaxing. The XXL World Championship in the USA, Mexico and Canada begins with 48 teams on June 11th. This is less than two weeks after the Champions League final. The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19. An appointment for the start of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season has not yet been published. This year the season began on August 22nd.