Why La Liga, Premier League Clubs Boycott Club World Cup

Clubs from the Premier League and La Liga may decide not to participate in the 2025 edition of the Club World Cup.

Premier League executive Richard Masters, Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) president Maheta Molango, and La Liga president Javier Tebas are leading the opposition to FIFA. The future of the competition will be discussed by these powerful individuals at the FIFPRO and PFA Player Workload Conference in London on Thursday. They have not ruled out taking legal action if their demands are not satisfied. They contend that the new timetable, which would see the Club World Cup redesigned and held in the USA the following summer, unfairly burdens clubs and players.

READ ALSO: 10 Most Disappointing Signings Of Premier League Season – Ranked

Molango has been particularly vocal, expressing his discontent with the current direction of football’s governing bodies. “Football is killing its own product,” Molango told SunSport.

“Those who run the game need to listen. If they don’t, then as unions we have a responsibility to the players to take action — and the legal route is the next step. The governing bodies have had every chance to meaningfully engage with us on this, but they have failed to do so. Current player workloads are unsustainable. People are realising the amount of games being pushed into the fixture calendar just don’t fit.”

Player welfare is the main point of contention in the opposition to the expanded Club World Cup. The revised format calls for up to four knockout games after three group matches, all of which must be played between June 15 and July 13. Players would only be able to return to the pitch two weeks following the Champions League final due to this strict timetable, which would not allow for enough recovery time. This is against the professional contracts’ minimum three-week vacation, which raises the danger of injury and fatigue, according to international players’ union FIFPRO and the PFA.

While the tournament promises a substantial £600 ($762) million-plus prize fund, critics argue that the financial incentives do not outweigh the physical toll on players. Top clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea are set to participate, along with international stars such as Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich and Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid. However, the allure of monetary rewards does little to mitigate concerns over player health and sustainability.

FIFA may be forced to reevaluate its choice if pressure from important football stakeholders grows. Lawyers are reportedly getting ready to file legal documentation for a possible confrontation with FIFA if they decline to change the tournament timetable.