BRUSSELS—Players are on the brink of going on strike due to increasing dissatisfaction with soccer’s governing bodies, particularly FIFA and its newly revamped Club World Cup, which is being likened to a ‘Super League,’ according to David Terrier, the head of players’ union FIFPRO Europe.
Terrier’s comments came after FIFPRO Europe, the European Leagues association, and Spain’s LaLiga filed a joint complaint against FIFA, accusing the global governing body of “abuse” in relation to the international match schedule, to European Union antitrust regulators.
Terrier emphasized the importance of ‘social dialogue’ among the sport’s stakeholders to preserve its ecosystem, stating, “It would be a serious failure to reach the point of a strike, but that possibility is becoming more likely every day.”
He added, “The European Union must emphasize the importance of social dialogue to all parties involved.”
At a joint press conference, FIFPRO Europe, European Leagues, and LaLiga criticized FIFA’s congested match calendar, showcasing videos of players, including France’s Kylian Mbappe, expressing their burden of too many matches.
Although Manchester City’s Rodri hinted at the possibility of a strike in September, a sports law expert suggested that such action in the Premier League was improbable.
Terrier stated, “The players are prepared to go as far as a strike if necessary. They feel that FIFA is not listening to or respecting them.”
He added, “An increasing number of players are indicating their readiness to strike,” specifically targeting the Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States across 12 venues involving 32 clubs from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
Terrier drew parallels between the Club World Cup and the failed European Super League attempt in 2021 by 12 elite clubs from England, Italy, and Spain to form a breakaway league.
He criticized FIFA’s focus on the Club World Cup, stating, “(The Club World Cup) is a subtle way to establish (a Super League), and FIFA is determined to proceed with this idea for credibility reasons. They should prioritize national teams over clubs.”
He added, “FIFA plans to fund the tournament with reserve revenues, which should instead support clubs in need.”
FIFA has not disclosed the financing details for the Club World Cup.
In 2019, FIFA announced plans to expand the tournament to 24 clubs starting in 2021, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rescheduling of Euro 2020, the implementation was delayed.
In 2022, FIFPRO commended the ongoing “open dialogue” with FIFA.
By Julien Pretot