FIFA hits back at its critics

If successful, the Club World Cup could rival the Premier League and Champions League as one of the most lucrative and watched tournaments in club soccer. It has been backed by clubs, and this year's event is set to feature many of the biggest names in the sport, including Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.

Coming at the end of many leagues' regular season, FIFA said the dates would be "harmoniously aligned with the international match calendar" to ensure sufficient rest for players ahead of the start of domestic campaigns.

The governing body has also set up a player welfare task force to be led by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

FIFPRO, which says it represents more than 66,000 players around the world, is not convinced. In October, its European division teamed up with domestic leagues and filed a legal complaint in Europe against how FIFA adds new and bigger men's competitions to the calendar.

FIFA hit back, noting that European clubs often fill their summer breaks with exhibition matches around the world. It accused some European leagues of acting with "hypocrisy, and without consideration to everyone else in the world".

Gelson Fernandes, a Swiss former player who now works for FIFA, with the title Director Member Associations Africa, said that calendar congestion is an issue only for a limited number of players who consistently go deep into tournaments with their clubs and countries. Rodri, who won Euro 2024 with Spain last year, and Alvarez, who helped Argentina triumph at the last World Cup, are two such high-profile examples.

"So, it's a small group of players, that minimum percentage of them, which are affected," Fernandes told reporters. "And I don't think we should stop a competition, which will give dreams and hopes to millions and billions of people around the world for that."

Agencies Via Xinhua