The world governing body of football, Federation internationale de Football Association(FIFA), has rejected claims that Fifpro and the World Leagues Association were not consulted over plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup.
This response follows Fifpro and the WLA’s request for FIFA to reconsider the scheduling of the tournament, which is slated for the upcoming summer, citing potential legal ramifications.
Fifpro and the WLA said “players are being pushed beyond their limits”.
In a letter addressed to Fifpro and the WLA, as reviewed by BBC Sport, FIFA states its obligation to implement an international match calendar in the best interest of global football.
FIFA asserts that both Fifpro and the WLA were involved in discussions regarding the overall 2025-30 international match calendar, including the confirmed 2025 Club World Cup, approved by the FIFA Council in December 2022.
While expressing willingness to engage in discussions, FIFA affirms its decision not to modify the upcoming year’s Club World Cup, emphasizing its authority to establish competition guidelines while adhering to existing regulations.
Manchester City and Chelsea are among the twelve European teams participating in the expanded Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the USA from June 13 to July 15, 2025.
FIFA highlights that domestic leagues within the WLA, such as the Premier League, retain the autonomy to organize their own competitions, citing the arrangement of international tours in recent times.
During the previous summer, the Premier League organized a six-team summer series in the USA, featuring Chelsea, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Aston Villa, and Brentford.
Fifa also asked if Fifpro and the WLA had been in touch with other bodies, given their games “are responsible for a fractional amount of the total elite club games around the world”.
“While we disagree with the tenor and content of your letter, we have nonetheless taken note of your concerns and are more than happy to invite you to discuss the matter further at a time convenient to you,” Fifa added.