FIFPRO calls for player wellbeing safeguards ahead of Club World Cup

FIFPRO, the global footballers’ union, is calling for the introduction of 12 key safeguards to protect player wellbeing—including a mandatory four-week off-season break—based on findings from a major scientific study ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off in the United States this Sunday.

The recommendations stem from the Delphi Study, which involved 70 medical and performance experts using a structured method to reach consensus on how to limit excessive workload in professional football. For each of the 12 proposals to be adopted, at least 75% agreement among participants was required.

Among the measures proposed are: 

-A full one-month off-season break

-Compulsory mid-season rest periods

-A minimum four-week re-training period after off-season breaks

-Strict workload limits for academy players under 18

The study’s findings come amid growing concerns that elite players are being overworked, especially with the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup and the expanded 48-team FIFA Men’s World Cup scheduled for 2026 in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The Club World Cup, which concludes in New Jersey on July 13, further compresses the calendar and shortens recovery time for players before the 2025–26 season begins.

“This study outlines safety standards based on the informed, independent perspectives of professionals who understand the physical and mental toll football takes on players,” said Prof. Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge, FIFPRO’s Medical Director. “If we agree that health should come first, these recommendations must be implemented.”

FIFPRO, along with the English and French players' unions, filed a lawsuit with the European Union in June 2024 accusing FIFA of abusing its dominant position by expanding the match calendar through additions like the new Club World Cup and enlarged World Cup format. That legal action remains ongoing.

As fixture congestion continues to intensify, FIFPRO is pushing for enforceable "minimum standards" to safeguard players’ health.

“Understanding human performance and injury prevention is a continuous scientific challenge,” said Dr. Darren Burgess, Chair of FIFPRO’s High-Performance Advisory Network. “But this study clearly shows that fundamental protections—like proper off-season breaks and rest between matches—are supported by both scientific evidence and basic occupational health principles.”

According to FIFPRO, 73% of the experts involved in the Delphi Study currently work for professional clubs, while 27% are affiliated with national teams. Most have over 10 years of experience in men’s football, with some bringing more than two decades of expertise to the table.