section_path: Criticism/Impact of added fixtures
section_name: Impact of added fixtures
paragraph_text: Impact of added fixtures
  
  The proposed expansion was criticized by FIFPRO, a global union of professional players, as well as the World Leagues Forum, which represents professional leagues; both organizations raised concerns about player welfare due to the added fixtures in an already congested playing calendar. The Spanish top division league, La Liga, also criticized the plan and said in a statement that it would consider legal action to block the expansion. Many clubs and national associations have opposed its scheduling, accusing FIFA of prioritizing money over the health of the players.
  
  The addition of the annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup tournament was also criticized for creating an overload of competitions that would further put the health of the players at risk. In May 2024, FIFPRO and the World Leagues Forum published a letter they sent to FIFA that calls on a rescheduling of the tournament as well as a reform to the FIFA International Match Calendar to give players more time to rest between major competitions, which have also seen expansions. The organizations also stated in the letter that they would advise member clubs to seek legal action or other options in the event that schedule congestion is not addressed. On June 13, 2024, FIFPRO announced that England's Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) and France's Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels (UNPF) submitted a legal claim with the Business Court in Brussels to protest the tournament. FIFPRO has warned throughout 2024 that if a compromise is not reached about the Club World Cup, their players may organize a strike. On January 30, 2025, Infantino and FIFPRO met to discuss fixture congestion.
  
  In a written response to criticism of the added fixtures stated in the letter sent by the FIFPRO and World Leagues Forum, FIFA stated that the accusations stated in the letter were "not supported by facts" and that the schedule for the Club World Cup was aligned with the FIFA International Match Calendar to assure enough time between the tournament final and the start of domestic leagues to ensure player welfare.