The Football Association published its annual report on Thursday
Published April 2, 2026 • Source: bbc.com
By Steven Sutcliffe
Fixture congestion and its impact on player welfare could hinder England's hopes in future World Cups and devalue competitions like the FA Cup, says the Football Association.
The introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup in 2025, plus the expansion of competitions like the Champions League, has added to the demands place on elite players.
While cup replays were scrapped two years ago to lighten schedules, the FA stressed there is a need to "balance the development of the global competition calendar with the imperative of protecting player welfare".
The message came in the FA's annual report for 2024-25, which was published on Thursday., external (https://www.thefa.com/news/2026/apr/02/2024-25-fa-annual-report)
In the report, the FA said its task had been "complicated by the ambitions of competition owners to expand their events within an already crowded schedule".
"The ongoing discussions regarding future structural changes to the game, such as the introduction of new tournaments (eg. Fifa Club World Cup), further intensify this challenge," the FA said.
"These changes have the potential to significantly reduce the downtime available to elite players, affecting their recovery and overall well-being.
"The introduction of more global competitions risks devaluing traditional domestic tournaments, such as the FA Cup, and may affect the performance of our national teams due to increased player fatigue and reduced time for international squad training."
Fifpro, the international players' union, has previously said its members are caught in a "perfect storm of how not to treat a human" because of the amount of travelling and rest and recovery available in the modern game.
Unlike the Premier League, which has previously criticised Fifa over what it considers a failure to consult over calendar changes, the FA has a direct influence at European and world governing body level.
As a member association with voting rights, the FA says it intends to "advocate for solutions that safeguard the interests of the players and the integrity of the sport".
Brain health & cyber threats take high priority
English football's governing body also cited risks relating to brain health and the the threat of cyber attacks as 'high-priority' areas it has to face.
There are rules across England, Scotland and Wales restricting heading in children's games, while different limits are in place around training in the English and Scottish professional games.
In 2019, the 'Field' study, funded by the FA and Professional Footballers' Association, found that footballers were 3.5 times more likely than those in the general population to suffer from neurodegenerative disorders.
It was the largest study to date looking at the effects of heading footballs.
Since then, the FA has brought in a phased ban of heading in under-11s football and says it is investing in objective and robust research to get a better understanding of a "complex" issue as risks are "still unknown".
It is also looking to be vigilant away from the pitch, warning that a successful attack on its computer systems could lead to "significant financial, legislative, and reputational impact if any FA data is compromised, or events disrupted".
Concerns about such potential threats have led the FA to implement "several protections", including educating its own staff. It says it is now equipped to fend off "malicious traffic at our network perimeter", meaning attackers would not have the opportunity to access private files.
The achievements of the England women's team - the Lionesses - and the men's under-21 side, who both won their respective European Championships in 2025, are celebrated in the report.
Steps to develop the grassroots game through better infrastructure and behaviour with a £158m investment into the game, an increase of £12m from 2023-24, was also highlighted.
There was also the expansion of a referee bodycam trial which began 12 months previously in adult grassroots football, having been granted permission by the International Football Association Board [IFAB], which oversees the laws of the game.
However, the FA said its operating profit decreased by £58m to £6m over the same period.
It also stated that discriminatory and anti-social behaviour was still hindering "efforts to create a safe and inclusive environment for all to enjoy the game".