• Loading stock data...
Sunday, October 19, 2025

Global Soccer Union Says Players Need More Rest Time

FIFPro released an annual report showing the quick turnaround time between seasons.

[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 13, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Chelsea FC midfielder Cole Palmer (10) in action with Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz (8) during the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
Mike Segar-Reuters via Imagn Images

The global soccer players union FIFPro released its annual workload report Monday that says the international calendar is too burdensome.

FIFPro has continuously opposed soccer organizers, particularly FIFA, for expanding the international match schedule in recent years. The UEFA Champions League grew last year, as will next year’s World Cup.

One focal point of FIFPro’s criticism in the report is the Club World Cup, which FIFA significantly revamped this summer. The tournament grew from seven to 32 teams and boasted a prize purse of $1 billion. The money courted several of Europe’s biggest clubs including Manchester City, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Chelsea, who took home at least $100 million for winning the tournament.

FIFPro says players haven’t been getting enough rest time between seasons or preparation time in preseason before jumping back into match play. The union cites a recent study that recommended players receive at least four weeks off between seasons and another minimum of four weeks for preseason training.

The new report tracked the percentage of players in the top five European leagues who competed in the UEFA European Championship and CONMEBOL Copa América in the summer of 2024 who received 28 days of either off-season or preseason. The report found 14% of Euro and 9% of Copa players got four weeks off, while 15% of Euro players and just 4% of Copa players got four weeks of preseason.

Those numbers went down for the biggest tournament of this summer, the Club World Cup. The report found that none of the participating teams gave their players 28 days off before the preseason began. None of the top European clubs—PSG, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, or Borussia Dortmund—gave their players 28 days in either category. All of these clubs gave their players between 19 and 25 days off, and between 7 and 23 days of preseason training. (Tournament finalists PSG and Chelsea had seven and 13 days of preseason, respectively, the report found.)

The report said the turnaround time between international and club play can be under 48 hours, which FIFPro says especially isn’t enough time for top players whose national team duties are on a different continent than their club.

FIFPro directly called out the heat problem at the Club World Cup, saying four matches should have been canceled or rescheduled. Players and managers complained about the temperature and mid-day kickoffs as the U.S. endured a heatwave this summer in several cities that will also host World Cup matches next year.

The players union has long criticized FIFA in particular for adding games to the international calendar, and even last year made a complaint saying FIFA is violating EU competition law by acting as both organizer and regulator. FIFA is far from the only organizer staging summer tournaments—the 2024 Summer Olympics and CONCACAF Gold Cup this year are two other recent examples—but its total makeover of the Club World Cup added significant additional workload to the international calendar. FIFA is also expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams and 64 to 104 matches next summer.

FIFA has blamed the clubs, domestic leagues, and confederations for overloading the calendar, and held that any changes it’s made have received full approval. 

FIFA held a meeting this summer with players unions in New York, after which it announced it had reached a “consensus” about player welfare, including a 21-day offseason and 72 hours between matches. FIFPro was notably not invited to the meeting.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

[Subscription Customers Only] Jun 19, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Botafogo owner John Textor before the match during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Rose Bowl Stadium.

John Textor Loses Bid to End $97M Suit Tied to Failed Soccer..

Textor told FOS he intends to appeal; Iconic Sports intends to collect.
Hansi Flick

Barcelona Players, Coach ‘Not Happy’ About Miami Game

La Liga is on the verge of relocating a December match.
FBI

Former Everton Bidder Indicted for $500 Million Fraud Scheme

777 Partners failed to complete its purchase of Everton in 2023.
Donald Trump

FIFA Backs Down, Suggests Trump Could Move World Cup Games

Trump has threatened to remove games from Seattle, San Francisco, and Boston.

Featured Today

@chef__tezz/Instagram

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
October 16, 2025

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.
IndyCar driver Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood, left, celebrates winning the Detroit Grand Prix with team co-owner Dan Towriss in Detroit on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss Defends  $700 Million Apple Deal

“We’re going to have a bigger reach than what people think.”
October 16, 2025

NHL Expansion Fee Soars to $2B As League’s Value Surges

The buy-in price for the league will more than triple.
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Second place Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) sprays champagne on winner Mercedes driver George Russell (63) at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
October 17, 2025

Apple Officially Taking F1 Rights From ESPN in $700M Deal

ESPN has broadcast F1 in the U.S. since 2018.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
WNBA
October 16, 2025

WNBA Says All-Star Game Will Return to Chicago Next Year

The league’s CBA expires in two weeks.
October 15, 2025

NHL Raises Concerns Over 2026 Olympic Arena’s Delayed Construction

The commissioner says construction progress in Italy remains a deep concern.
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the first quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the Texas Longhorns at Amalie Arena.
October 14, 2025

Dawn Staley Says NBA Far From Ready to Hire a Female Head..

South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach interviewed with the Knicks.
October 14, 2025

Cavaliers Go All In, Lead NBA With Record $392M Payroll

The Cavs are the only second-apron violator in the NBA.