International calendar: "FIFA doesn't impose anything without adequate consultation" (M. Grafström)

"We reject any suggestion or inference that FIFA somehow imposes that International Match Calendar on the football community without adequate consultation or to suit its own 'business strategy'," said Mattias Grafström, interim secretary general of the International Federation, in a letter dated 10/05/2024 and addressed to both FIFPro and the World Leagues Association.

The Swede was responding to an initial letter received on 02/05/2024 and signed by the two organisations, which condemned a competition calendar that is now "beyond saturation", damaging the health of players and creating "economic prejudice" against national leagues. They are therefore asking the world governing body to reschedule the new version of the Club World Cup ("Mundial de Clubes"), the first edition of which is scheduled for 2025 in the United States with 32 teams, and to reopen discussions on the international calendar for the period up to 2030.

"Should Fifa refuse to formally commit to resolving the issues, as set out above, at its upcoming council, we shall be compelled to advise our members on the options…