Phil Foden has been described as a “victim” of football’s overloaded calendar after missing out on the England national football team’s squad for the World Cup in North America. The midfielder endured a difficult campaign with Manchester City, leading to his omission from Thomas Tuchel’s selection.
The situation surrounding Foden was discussed during a meeting of FIFPRO, the international organisation representing professional footballers. Maheta Molango, who is also a member of the Fifpro board, said the England midfielder’s reduced impact has clear explanations linked to the demands placed on elite players.
Molango pointed to the drop in Foden’s availability and performances compared with previous seasons. He argued that the current football calendar benefits commercial interests while harming players and reducing the overall quality of the game.
The PFA chief added that supporters are losing the opportunity to watch gifted footballers at their best, saying players such as Foden are the type who inspire fans with their talent.
Palmer also affected after difficult season
Cole Palmer was another major name left out of the England squad after a challenging year with Chelsea. Molango said supporters had only seen flashes of Palmer’s ability during the campaign.
According to Fifpro, footballers are unable to consistently handle seasons filled with a high number of demanding matches without eventually suffering physically or seeing their form decline. The organisation believes the current schedule places excessive strain on leading players across Europe.
Foden’s previous campaign had ended with several individual honours, including the PFA Player of the Year award, following the 2023-24 season. However, his latest performances did not reach the same standard, contributing to his exclusion from the national team setup.
The discussion around player welfare has become increasingly prominent as top clubs and international sides continue to add more fixtures to already crowded schedules.
Injury fears raised before expanded World Cup
Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk were highlighted in data collected by Fifpro as players who may face greater injury risks or drops in performance next season because of their workload.
Van Dijk appeared in every Premier League match for Liverpool, while Rice played 36 league games for Arsenal. Both are expected to take part in the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Matches at the tournament will also be played in high temperatures, increasing concerns about the physical demands on players arriving after long club seasons. Molango warned that football could reach a stage where only the strongest players are capable of coping with the schedule.
He suggested many of the sport’s top talents could eventually reach breaking point after repeatedly playing close to 60 matches before entering major international competitions.
Concerns over football’s future demands
Molango said there is a real possibility that future tournaments will become a “survival of the fittest” because of the relentless number of matches faced by elite footballers throughout the year.
He stressed that players cannot continue entering major competitions after already completing extremely long seasons without consequences for their health or performance levels. Concerns remain that the growing schedule may continue to affect both the quality of football and the condition of the players involved.
Fifpro’s position is that the game must place greater importance on protecting footballers, especially those regularly competing for leading clubs and national teams. The organisation believes current demands are unsustainable for many players.
The debate around fixture congestion is expected to continue as football authorities expand competitions while players and their representatives push for stronger safeguards.