FIFA is under legal pressure due to its congested calendar.

FIFA is under threat of legal action from the global players’ union Fifpro and the World Leagues Association, which includes the Premier League. They are challenging FIFA’s plans to host a 32-team Club World Cup at the end of the upcoming season, arguing that the football calendar is already oversaturated, making it difficult for national leagues to organize competitions properly and posing injury risks to players.

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has also sought legal advice over the lack of consultation regarding the increasingly congested calendar and its impact on its members.

In a letter to FIFA’s president and general secretary, Fifpro and the World Leagues Association assert that if FIFA extends its own competitions, it should make adjustments to others to avoid burdening national leagues and players. They warn that failure to address these issues could lead to legal action.

FIFA maintains that it has considered player welfare in its scheduling program, arguing that events like the Club World Cup would make up a small percentage of club matches in leagues such as Germany’s Bundesliga. Additionally, FIFA notes that the influential European Clubs’ Association has backed the Club World Cup plans.

The threat of legal action will be discussed at FIFA’s council meeting in Bangkok on May 17th, where the host nation or nations for the 2027 Women’s World Cup will also be decided. This legal challenge comes as Premier League clubs announce lucrative pre and post-season tours, further complicating an already crowded schedule.