Overview

• FIFPRO says accumulated data from 2024–25 shows calendar congestion and extreme heat could leave many players unavailable or impaired for the 2026 tournament.
• Using the U.S.-staged Club World Cup as a case study, the report found four matches above FIFPRO’s 28°C cancellation threshold and 17 near it, with some noon kickoffs affecting conditions.
• Chelsea had just 13 days of preseason and Real Madrid and Chelsea had only 20 days off-season, while PSG had seven days of pre-training, underscoring shortened recovery windows at elite clubs.
• Medical guidance cited by FIFPRO urges at least four weeks between seasons, a minimum two days between appearances, and better accounting for travel demands in scheduling.
• FIFPRO says it is still awaiting specific talks with FIFA on World Cup scheduling, continues legal action over the crowded calendar, and flags six host cities as extreme heat-risk locations; a political push to move matches from some U.S. cities was also reported.