Club World Cup 2025: players’ union threatens FIFA and asks for postponement

Club World Cup 2025: players’ union threatens FIFA and asks for postponement | international football

FIFPro, the international football players’ union, sent a letter to FIFA asking for the postponement of the 2025 Club World Cup, first with 32 clubs. Supported by the World Association of Leagues, the entity that represents the athletes attacks the new tournament and promises legal action if it is maintained in the version released, between June and July of next year, in the United States.

Find out the details of the new Club World Cup

The document was widely publicized in the British press. In the letter, addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, FIFPro also condemns the new Intercontinental Cup, a short tournament created to replace the annual edition of the World Cup. The athletes’ body reiterates that there is room for rest in the calendar.

– FIFA’s recent strategic approach to developing its own competitions – such as the World Cup, the Club World Cup or the Intercontinental Cup – is negatively disrupting the football industry, putting national leagues at risk and affecting health and safety. the well-being of the players – says the letter.

1 of 1 Foden and André, in the duel between Manchester City and Fluminense: teams will be in the new Club World Cup — Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images

Foden and André, in the duel between Manchester City and Fluminense: teams will be in the new Club World Cup — Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images

With the Club World Cup, some players will be able to have three consecutive seasons of major tournaments held after the end of the European season: Eurocup and Copa América in 2024, the new World Cup in 2025, and the World Cup in 2026. FIFPro promised legal action , if the new tournament is maintained.

– We will be required to advise our members on the options available to proactively safeguard their interests. These options include legal action against FIFA, on which we have commissioned external expert advice – the document states.

The format of the 2025 Club World Cup:

It will take place in the United States, between June 15th and July 13th;
Eight groups with four teams each and a single shift;
The best two qualify for the round of 16;
Single game knockout;
There will be no third place competition.

Next week, FIFA will hold its Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. The entity did not make public comments on FIFPro’s demand. The new Club World Cup received criticism and distrust from the European Club Association and some leagues, such as the Premier League, but the resistance did not stop Infantino from continuing to hold the tournament.

The new World Cup with 32 clubs also comes in the season in which the Champions League is expanded to 36 teams, with more games in the first phase, and the increase in the World Cup, to 48 teams. Palmeiras, Flamengo and Fluminense are classified for the FIFA tournament in the United States.