Fifa has responded to claims made by Fifpro and the World Leagues Association regarding the upcoming 32-team Club World Cup scheduled to take place next summer. The players’ union and the WLA had raised concerns about the tournament and called on Fifa to reschedule it due to fears that players were being overworked.
In a letter seen by BBC Sport, Fifa stated that they had consulted with Fifpro and the WLA about changes to the international match calendar, including the 2025 Club World Cup. Despite being open to discussions, Fifa maintained that the tournament would proceed as planned and that they had the authority to set the competition parameters.
The upcoming Club World Cup will feature teams from around the world, including European powerhouses like Manchester City and Chelsea. The tournament will be held in the USA from June 13 to July 15, 2025. Fifa pointed out that domestic leagues, such as the Premier League, have the ability to organize their own competitions, like the summer series that took place in the USA last year.
Fifa also queried whether Fifpro and the WLA had engaged with other organizations, given that their games were only a small fraction of elite club matches globally. Despite disagreeing with the tone of the communication, Fifa expressed a willingness to further discuss the matter with Fifpro and the WLA at a mutually convenient time.