World football has undergone a drastic change in recent years, with modifications to the format of traditional tournaments to include more matches so that FIFA and UEFA can secure better commercial contracts. The most recent example is the Champions League, which introduced a league system instead of the group stage, with eight matches instead of the previous six in the group stage.
Before, in 2018, UEFA invented the Nations League -a tournament that many still do not understand- in order to take advantage of the “FIFA dates” for competitive matches and avoid friendlies.
FIFA also created a 32-team Club World Cup the year before the World Cup, and the first edition will be held in 2025.
And in the most controversial change, starting in 2026, the Men's World Cup will increase from 32 to 48 teams, with a total of 104 matches instead of 64, in a move solely for political purposes by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
World football figures threaten an unprecedented strike.
One of the first to speak out was Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, a key player for Manchester City, who said in early September that "the problem is that UEFA and FIFA are scheduling extra matches and we can try to say something, but no solution has been found. They don't care. Money speaks for them."
Now it was the turn of Spanish player Rodri, also from City, who revealed that top-level footballers are close to going on strike due to the number of games they have to play. The midfielder responded to a question about whether footballers could refuse to play due to the schedule saturation: "I think we are about to get to that point... If you ask any player, they will tell you the same. It's the general opinion of the players, not just Rodri's. If it continues like this, there will come a time when we have no other option but we'll see. We are concerned because we are the ones who suffer.".
FIFPRO, the union representing international footballers, has already filed a legal challenge against FIFA's plans to expand its competitions, including the first Men's World Cup with 48 teams in 2026 and the new Club World Cup, because players are being asked for more effort without being consulted.
Rodri stated that a footballer can play "at the highest level" if they play between 40 and 50 matches per year, but last season at City, the Argentine Julián Álvarez (now at Atlético Madrid) was called up for 83 matches and Phil Foden played in 72.
"This year we may reach 80, and in my humble opinion this is too much. Someone must take care of us because we are the protagonists of this sport, business, or whatever you want to call it. Not everything can be about money and marketing... the important thing is the quality of the show," said Rodri.
The Spanish international cited his teammate Erling Haaland as an example, who, since Norway did not qualify for the Euros, was able to rest during the summer and started the current season with nine goals in the first four matches for Manchester City.