With approximately 3.5 billion fans worldwide, soccer is the most popular sport in the world by some distance, and over the last couple of decades, it has truly become a global game.
It is a sport which always gets people talking, with fans of the sport rarely passing up the opportunity to get involved in lively debates on their favourite teams, leagues and competitions.
It feels as though there is rarely a quiet moment on the soccer calendar these days and whether you’re a fan of Major League Soccer or a Premier League devotee, there is always something to keep you entertained.
However, in recent months, some concerns have been raised over the sheer number of matches taking place, with the increasingly congested fixture list seemingly taking its toll on professional footballers. The expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup appears to have been the tipping point, with the 32-team tournament taking place in the summer of 2025 – a phase of the season in which many players would have ordinarily been looking forward to an extended period of recuperation and recovery.
In the UK, the Professional Footballer’s Association have threatened legal action and has called for a mandatory 28-day off-season break. With barely a month between the aforementioned FIFA Club World Cup and the start of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, players at top clubs are unlikely to enjoy very little downtime before heading off to the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup the following summer.
Furthermore, UEFA’s revised format for the 2024-25 Champions League has increased the number of matches from 125 to 189, and with top-six Premier League sides still expected to take part in both the League Cup and the FA Cup, it is little wonder that players are becoming increasingly concerned about the prospect of burnout. The FA’s plan to scrap FA Cup replays for this forthcoming campaign is a step in the right direction. However, this is merely a drop in the ocean for the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
Even MLS teams have seen the number of games increased over the last few seasons. The introduction of the annual Leagues Cup, which takes place throughout July and August, has ensured that every franchise will compete in a minimum of two additional matches per season. The expansion of the playoffs and the CONCACAF Champions League could potentially increase the number of games for a successful side to 61. Although this is comparatively fewer than their Premier League counterparts, MLS sides are likely to clock up far more miles throughout the regular season, and a higher number of cross-conference midweek match-ups isn’t particularly helpful for coaches who wish to spend more time working with their players on the training pitch.
The increased number of competitive matches has understandably triggered a discussion surrounding player welfare, however, it has benefited several parties including TV companies, who are now finding it much easier to fill their schedules, especially during the quieter summer months. Clubs can often sell more merchandise due to the increased exposure of teams who participate in far-flung pre-season friendlies, whereas betting companies and online sportsbooks are another beneficiary of the busier timetable, as they can offer a wider range of markets and odds on the ever-increasing number of matches.
Even during the quieter periods of the European calendar, the best betting sites will still have prices available on Major League Soccer, the Canadian Premier League, Club Friendlies, Champions League qualifiers, and international youth tournaments. During the off-season in the US and Canada, bookmakers often become inundated with bets on the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A.
Impact on Players
Over the last twelve months, more and more elite players have spoken out about the excessive workload. A survey, which was conducted by FIFPRO following the 2022 World Cup, found that 53% of players who competed at the tournament reported an injury or felt more likely to suffer an injury due to the congested calendar.
86% of respondents wanted a minimum of 14 days to ready themselves for an upcoming campaign, although the majority suggested that a 21-day period would provide them with the perfect preparation time.
The increased use of VAR coupled with new stoppage-time rules, which were introduced at the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, has given further credence to the debate and this is starting to take its toll on players. As a result, some top-level competitors are opting to scale down their international commitments or are potentially considering early retirement.
Medical science has improved considerably over the past couple of decades, and most elite clubs now have a dedicated team of medical professionals who liaise with the coaching staff and can suggest optimal recovery time for players who may be nursing an injury. However, the physical demands of the game have a sizeable impact, and with very few opportunities to enjoy some time away from the sport, we are likely to see a potentially damaging knock-on effect when it comes to the mental health of professional soccer players.