Raphinha Slams FIFA Over Club World Cup Demands: “We Had to Go and That’s It”

Barcelona star criticises FIFA for forcing players to give up ‘sacred’ holidays to feature at the Club World Cup

In a summer that should’ve been about rest, recharging, and finally hitting pause after a grueling season, Raphinha’s comments have hit a raw nerve. The Barcelona and Brazil winger has lashed out at FIFA’s scheduling of the expanded Club World Cup, calling it “unacceptable” that players are being forced to sacrifice their only downtime to play in what he describes as a tournament “nobody asked for.”

While Barcelona themselves won’t be present at this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States — having failed to qualify via FIFA’s coefficient system — Raphinha’s words have resonated far beyond Catalonia. They echo a growing chorus of discontent across the football world, as players and unions push back against what many see as an unsustainable and exploitative calendar.

Raphinha speaks out: “We follow orders. We have to be there.”

Raphinha Barcelona 2025

Speaking during an event in Brazil, Raphinha didn’t mince his words. “It’s very difficult to give up vacation time to play something we’re forced to,” he said bluntly. “Three weeks of vacation time are sacred. At no point did they ask us if we wanted to play or what the ideal dates were. They just said we had to go, and that’s it.”

There was a palpable frustration in the 27-year-old’s voice — not just at the lack of consultation from FIFA, but at the creeping erosion of players’ rights and recovery time.

“As a player for a European club, giving up my vacation to play in a new tournament is very complicated. It’s really bad having to give up your vacation to play something you’re forced to,” he continued. “We follow orders, we have to be there playing.”

Raphinha’s remarks are especially striking given he isn’t participating in the Club World Cup himself. But his comments weren’t just personal — they were a show of solidarity for teammates, friends, and fellow professionals across the game who are, in his view, being pushed beyond breaking point.

Club World Cup under fire: Timing, injuries, and burnout

The 2025 Club World Cup is meant to be a celebration of the best teams from every continent. With 32 clubs competing in a reimagined format in the United States, FIFA had hoped it would become the flagship summer tournament for club football. But so far, it’s faced as much criticism as fanfare.

From oppressive heat to a stacked fixture list, to a growing injury toll among key players, the tournament’s challenges have been on full display. It’s taking place just weeks after most domestic campaigns ended — and in some cases, just days after international competitions like Euro 2025 and Copa América concluded.

That has made rest almost non-existent for the game’s elite.

And it’s not just Raphinha sounding the alarm.

France’s players’ union (UNFP) recently issued a scathing rebuke of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of “trampling on player welfare for money” and branding the 32-team Club World Cup “a massacre.” The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in England has also warned of legal action over player workload and the disregard for rest periods.

These aren’t just isolated complaints — they’re the latest warning shots in a growing movement calling for reform.

A broken calendar and growing unrest

President of FIFA Gianni Infantino speaks next to the trophy during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Draw ceremony

Raphinha’s comments speak to a deeper truth. Modern footballers, especially at the top of the pyramid, are now effectively year-round workers. Between domestic leagues, European competitions, international breaks, summer tournaments, and now the Club World Cup, there is no true off-season. The demands never stop.

The irony, of course, is that footballers are elite athletes who need rest to perform at their peak. Without it, injuries increase, performances dip, and — as Raphinha put it — mental and physical wellbeing suffer.

“The three weeks we get off are sacred,” he stressed. “There’s no time to see your family, to recover properly, to just breathe.”

His words strike at the core of a sport increasingly driven by broadcast rights and commercial expansion. For clubs, there are millions to be made. For players, the cost is far more personal — and far more lasting.

What now for FIFA and the Club World Cup?

FIFA has been bullish in defending the Club World Cup expansion. President Infantino has spoken proudly about “growing the game globally” and offering more clubs and fans a chance to see their teams on the world stage. But as criticism mounts, it’s becoming increasingly clear that FIFA may have overreached.

Raphinha’s outburst may not force immediate change, but it adds a fresh and very public voice to the rising backlash. Coming from one of Europe’s most recognisable players, his words carry weight.

So what happens next?

For now, the Club World Cup continues in the U.S., though the shadow of player burnout looms large over the tournament. As for Raphinha, he’ll report to Barcelona pre-season on July 13 under new head coach Hansi Flick. He’ll likely be tasked with a big role in the German’s high-octane system — but whether he’s rested enough to thrive remains to be seen.

If nothing else, his honesty may spark more players to speak out — and force the sport’s governing bodies to finally listen.

Because if the game’s stars can’t even get three weeks to rest in a 12-month grind, what does that say about football’s priorities?