Match Calendar 2025-2030: "FIFA’s decisions further crowd an already overloaded calendar" (WLF)

"FIFA’s decisions, including the expansion of the 2026 World Cup and the new versions of the Club World Cup, further crowd an already overloaded calendar and fail to consider the impact on domestic league competitiveness and player welfare," said the World Leagues Forum on 15/03/2023.

This statement comes after the announcement of the men's international match calendar for the 2025-2030 period on 14/03/2023, following a FIFA Council meeting held in Kigali (Rwanda) on the same day. The main changes include:
• a change in format for the 2026 World Cup, from 16 three-team groups to 12 four-team groups;
• a 32-team Club World Cup to be played every four years from June 2025;
• a yearly FIFA competition to be held from 2024, which will feature the champions of the premier club competitions of all confederations, the winner of the UEFA Champions League and the winner of intercontinental play-offs between the other confederations.

"Despite multiple requests, FIFA did not consult with the World Leagues Forum or any of its member leagues, which represent the foundations of professional football…