This year, the expansion of major international football competitions will result in players participating in more games than ever before, raising concerns about the physical and mental toll on athletes as they are pushed to their limits.
More games and tournaments are on the football calendar than ever before. Major tournaments, like the UEFA Champions League (UCL) and the Club World Cup are expanding, adding pressure to already busy schedules. The UCL is expanding from 32 to 36 teams, with clubs now set to play 8 matches in the new ‘league phase’, compared to 6 in the former ‘group stage.’[1] The Club World Cup, now occurring every 4 years, will expand from 7 to 32 teams in 2025, with each team now required to play at least 5 matches in the tournament, compared to the previous format where several teams played only 1 or 2 games.[2] These additional matches pile on to already congested schedules.
“It’s an unfeasible calendar — we can’t keep up the level by playing every three days,” states Spanish defender Dani Carvajal.[3]
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) [4] has been criticised for valuing motivations of profit over those of player welfare, with the expansion of the international schedule promising to bring significant revenue from broadcasting rights, sponsorships and ticket sales.[5] This is done without regard for the players mental or physical health. In a study conducted by FIFPRO, the global footballers union, 53% of players felt more likely to develop an injury due to an increased number of games in the season.[6]
The increased pressure on footballers to constantly perform at their peak, combined with immediate global criticism, has significant negative effects on their mental health. Research shows that up to 38% of footballers surveyed experience symptoms of anxiety or depression, often exacerbated by the stress of playing under intense scrutiny and the expectation to deliver perfect performances. This pressure, magnified by social media and 24/7 media coverage, can lead to mental health challenges such as burnout and emotional exhaustion.[7] Without sufficient mental health support, these athletes are at risk of long-term psychological issues that could affect both their performance and well-being. This facilitates a self-reinforcing feedback loop, as poor performance can lead to increased stress and mental fatigue.
With more matches added to already busy schedules, footballers are being pushed to their mental and physical limits. Without proper opportunity to rest, this can challenge the quality of play and well-being of the athletes. Increased games may boost revenue and excite fans, but is the detriment to players worth it?
[4] Transl. – International Federation of Association Football
[6] Fifpro player workload monitoring[7]FIFPro survey reveals mental health concerns for footballers | Football News | Sky Sports