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FIFA Set Special Rules To Decrease Workload Before World Cup 2026
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY: Cole Palmer #10 of Chelsea FC greets Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Justin Setterfield - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

FIFA Set Special Rules To Decrease Workload Before World Cup 2026

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Marcelo Cartaxo  |  Last updated Jul 14, 2025 1:47 PM ET

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition hosted by three different nations—Mexico, the United States, and Canada. One significant change for this expanded tournament will be the lighter workload for national teams. Teams will now have more time to rest between games.

This adjustment comes after one of the most demanding seasons in modern soccer history. With European clubs and Brazilian teams playing at least 60 games within a single year, FIFA decided to address concerns about player fatigue by mandating longer rest periods between matches in the upcoming World Cup.

“There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period/holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season… This period should be managed individually by each club and the respective players, also depending on their match calendars and taking into account applicable collective agreements,” FIFA agreed with the players' union.

Following the Club World Cup, many European teams returned home to rest, though players will still require light training sessions and recovery treatments, as domestic leagues begin in just a month.

For many, preparation for the tournament was rushed. Players had less than two weeks to prepare, especially those involved in international friendlies or competitions like the UEFA Nations League, before immediately rejoining their clubs for Club World Cup preparations.

Brazilian and MLS teams had no time to rest before returning to their domestic league schedules

Clubs like Fluminense, Palmeiras, and Flamengo all played in the knockout rounds but eventually lost to Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Upon returning to Brazil, they resumed their domestic schedules within just a few days. The same situation applied to Inter Miami.

Lionel Messi’s side was eliminated by PSG in the Round of 16, yet only a week later, they were back on the field against CF Montreal.

Some influential voices in world football have been critical of the Club World Cup’s expansion. Red Bull's Head of Football, Jürgen Klopp, did not mince words:

"The Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football. Whoever thought of that has obviously never played football themselves. Players need rest. They need breaks. But what happens? We just throw in another tournament. It makes absolutely no sense. It’s a competition nobody needs." - Klopp said.

The president of La Liga Javier Tebas also opposed the tournament, arguing that it would disrupt the league schedule if clubs like Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid couldn’t play in the opening round — and he was right. Xabi Alonso’s side has already requested that La Liga postpone their first match against Osasuna to give players more time to rest and prepare for the new season.

“They haven’t consulted us about dates… They’re damaging Spanish competition, if big teams like Real Madrid or Atlético can’t play on the first day of LaLiga.” Javier Tebas said.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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