Overview
- England manager Thomas Tuchel omitted Phil Foden and Cole Palmer from his World Cup squad, a selection unions have linked to players’ heavy recent schedules.
- PFA chief Maheta Molango told a FIFPRO meeting that Foden is a "victim" of the sport’s congested calendar and that his availability and form have declined.
- FIFPRO presented data flagging specific players, including Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk, as at increased risk of injury or dips in performance from accumulated workloads.
- The PFA and FIFPRO called for structural fixes such as guaranteed summer breaks to reduce cumulative fatigue and protect players’ health and performance.
- Unions warned that the 48‑team World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with many games in hot conditions, could advantage the fittest players and harm the quality of the tournament.