When France's squad arrived at the World Cup in 2026, they had already played more matches than any other top nation—98,895 minutes of football in the previous 12 months alone. The tournament, kicking off in the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes on the back of three consecutive summers of elite competition: the 2024 European Championships, the expanded Club World Cup in 2025, and now the World Cup itself. Some players have barely had a break in three years, and the issue of fixture congestion has prompted a landmark agreement between football's world governing body and the global players' union.
The basic problem is simple: the football calendar has become overcrowded. The Club World Cup, expanded by FIFA, was slotted into what would normally be a summer rest period. According to BBC Sport, 74 players at this World Cup also featured in that tournament. Of the top 10 nations in the FIFA rankings, France's squad accumulated the most minutes (98,895), followed by Portugal (96,405) and England (95,360). Players such as Bayern Munich's Michael Olise (65 appearances for club and country) and Paris St-Germain's Vitinha (66 games) have been in almost constant action.
“Explains why players are exhausted and how new FIFA-FIFPRO rules will change contracts and transfers.”
This is not a new complaint. In October 2024, FIFPRO (the international players' union) filed a legal claim against FIFA over the crowded match calendar. Earlier in 2026, former France international Lassana Diarra reached a settlement in his case against FIFA and the Belgian FA, which had challenged transfer rules after a failed move to Charleroi in 2014. Those pressures helped push FIFA and FIFPRO to negotiate. In June 2026, they signed a memorandum of understanding that will bring significant changes to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
For UK readers, the most immediate change is the introduction of mandatory release clauses. From 1 January 2027, all player contracts will have to include a buyout figure—a practice already standard in Spain, where Barcelona's Lamine Yamal has a release clause of €1bn (£840m). This could transform how Premier League clubs negotiate transfers. Manchester United, for example, have already signalled a more disciplined approach. Chief executive Omar Berrada said the club will not bow to pressure and overpay, following costly mistakes on players like Casemiro and Antony. They plan to rely on data and a clear plan, as they did last summer when signing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens.
The agreement also gives players greater protections against abusive practices, such as being forced to train alone or having passports withheld. Players will be allowed to cancel their contracts while still receiving payments due, claim compensation for expenses, and demand up to six months' extra pay in damages. FIFPRO gains a veto over key areas of football governance, ensuring players have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their careers.
Q: Why are football players so tired? A: The international calendar has featured three straight summers of major tournaments—the 2024 Euros, the expanded Club World Cup in 2025, and the 2026 World Cup. Many top players have logged over 60 matches in a year, with some barely having a break. France, Portugal and England have the highest total minutes among squads.
Q: What is the new FIFA-FIFPRO agreement? A: Signed in June 2026, it makes release clauses mandatory in players' contracts from 1 January 2027. It also gives players stronger protections against mistreatment, allows them to cancel contracts in abusive situations, and gives FIFPRO a veto on major governance decisions. The deal runs until December 2030.
Q: How will release clauses affect Premier League clubs? A: Clubs like Manchester United are already adopting more cautious transfer strategies, using data to avoid overpaying. Release clauses will set fixed prices for players, potentially making negotiations more straightforward but also driving up fees for top talent, as seen with Lamine Yamal's €1bn clause in Spain.
What happens next is still unfolding. The Club World Cup continues to generate debate over its place in the calendar, and the new transfer rules will not take effect until 2027. But the agreement between FIFA and FIFPRO marks a shift towards giving players more control—and more rest, if the sport's leaders can agree on a less congested schedule.