the governing body of consistently prioritizing its interests.
It was also conveyed that FIFA refuses to consider the interests of the national competitions as it continues to overload the footballing calendar, serious concerns over the impact on player welfare were reiterated.
Masters acts as chair of the Forum, the group’s sentiments echo those of the PFA FIFPro, who criticized FIFA’s announcement this week of a new 32-club tournament in the summer of 2025.
FIFPro has been working closely with the World Leagues Forum on the match-calendar issue, concerns were discussed at the Forum’s AGM earlier this year.
There, the board emphasized that “the constant growth in the volume of international club national team matches is unsustainable for player welfare for the scheduling of domestic football”.
They also pledged to develop a response that is in the best interests of the game’s future. If their concerns continue to go unheard, they are likely to intensify their resistance to FIFA’s plans.
The European Club Association, which represents the interests of a group of elite clubs, including 2025 Club World Cup competitors Manchester City Chelsea, “warmly welcomed” the announcement, stating it was “fantastic news” for club football in general.
City boss Pep Guardiola also confirmed during an interview in March 2024 that “the clubs supported it”, but he also warned the “lack of recovery from year-to-year… is tough for the players” “things should change”.
Manchester City Chelsea will play up to seven extra games within four weeks in the USA, at the height of summer, with the final being staged just three weeks before the start of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
The World Leagues Forum represents the interests of 44 leagues across the entire globe, including LaLiga, the Bundesliga, Serie A, also the professional league in Saudi Arabia, where FIFA this week announced its plans for the tournament’s expansion ahead of this month’s Club World Cup
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