PFA Chief: Club World Cup ‘Devaluing’ Football Amid Player Welfare Crisis

Club World Cup ‘Devaluing’ Football, Warns PFA Chief Maheta Molango

Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) chief executive Maheta Molango has warned that FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup is “devaluing” football, citing unbearable playing conditions, declining match quality, and increasing risk to player welfare.

The competition, held in high temperatures and humidity across the United States, has drawn criticism from players, coaches, and unions alike. Juventus’ 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in Miami on Tuesday saw ten players request substitutions due to 30°C heat and 70% humidity, while Borussia Dortmund’s substitutes had to stay indoors during a match last month to escape the scorching heat.

Six matches have been suspended due to thunderstorms, including a two-hour delay in Chelsea’s clash with Benfica.

“We’re devaluing the product,” Molango told reporters.

“If I’m a US fan and that’s my first exposure to soccer, that’s not good. We’re competing with other top sports. What we’re offering right now isn’t quality entertainment.”

‘It’s All About Money’ – Molango Blasts Calendar Overload

Molango highlighted how players are struggling to perform, leading to dwindling spectator engagement and long-term consequences:

“There’s no way you can have a good game if you play at 4pm in Mexico. Players say, ‘I need to manage my efforts,’ and that shows on the pitch.”

With players fatigued and unable to deliver high-performance football, Molango stressed that the issue is systemic:

“It’s this accumulation of competitions that don’t align. The football calendar is nonsensical.”

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp previously labelled the tournament as “the worst idea ever implemented in football”, echoing global concerns raised in a Fifpro report urging a minimum four-week off-season for players.

Guardiola: “It’s the Price of Success”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, whose side exited the tournament after defeat to Al Hilal, acknowledged Klopp’s viewpoint but said:

“Would I love to have two months to prepare for next season? Yes. But it is what it is. This is the price of success.”

FIFA Defends Itself Amid Ongoing Legal Battles

FIFA has dismissed claims that the Club World Cup is a leading cause of fixture congestion, insisting that only two teams will play a maximum of seven matches every four years, replacing the former Confederations Cup slot.

FIFA also pointed to initiatives such as extra substitutions and permanent concussion protocols as part of its commitment to player welfare.

Despite that, legal action is escalating:

• The PFA, alongside French and Italian player unions, launched a lawsuit in 2023 challenging the “overloaded and unworkable” football calendar.

• Fifpro and top European leagues have filed a complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of abuse of dominance.

“This is a political one,” said Molango. “But based on what we’ve seen, we’re confident the Commission will show interest — and that’s unusual for a sports-related case.”

A full legal hearing is expected in early 2026.