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Fifpro has published a report on how the Qatar World Cup, held in November and December, affected player workload, and according to the union, a winter World Cup "should not be a viable option for anybody".
Holding another winter World Cup without major changes to how the tournament is arranged would be unacceptable, the world players' union Fifpro has warned.
Fifpro has published a report on how the Qatar World Cup, held in November and December, affected player workload, and according to the union, a winter World Cup "should not be a viable option for anybody".
"Repeating what we had this time is clearly not acceptable," said Fifpro general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann.
The post-tournament recovery time for players was cut from 37 days to eight to reduce disruption to Europe's club calendar, which according to the report was not enough.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has previously claimed that the winter schedule led to better matches. However, the survey conducted by Fifpro shows that most players want at least 14 days of preparation and a recovery period of between 14 and 28 days.
"If you want to pursue a winter World Cup again, you need to get into conversations with the leagues to completely change their schedules to provide appropriate training," Baer-Hoffmann added.
"That would mean a two or two-and-a-half month break from competition. I find it unlikely they would agree to that."
A future World Cup could be staged in December, with Saudi Arabia considering a bid to be the 2030 host, while Portugal and Spain could also hold a winter tournament. However, if major changes are not made, players' welfare could be jeopardized.
Additionally, Fifpro has also criticized the decision by international rule-making body IFAB to reject calls for the immediate implementation of a temporary concussion substitutes trial.
The trial had the backing of the Premier League and Major League Soccer, but IFAB decided in favor of sticking with the current situation of having permanent concussion substitutes.
IFAB is adamant that it is putting the health of players first and that its stance is backed up by medical evidence.
However, Baer-Hoffmann disagrees and has not ruled out the possibility of some leagues ignoring IFAB by bringing in their own regulations.
The players' union is keen to ensure that players' welfare is a top priority, and with the potential for increased games at the 2026 World Cup, it will be important for FIFA and IFAB to work closely with players and their representatives to ensure that their concerns are considered.
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