2026 World Cup: FIFA Faces Risk of a Tournament Without Its Star Players

The football schedule is more packed than ever, and there is a growing risk that the world’s best players could miss the 2026 World Cup.

Cole Palmer and Ousmane Dembele looked great in a photo sitting on a cliff before the Club World Cup final. But after a tiring summer tournament, it is hard to believe that they wouldn’t have been better off resting on a beach.

Klopp’s Prophetic Words

The fitness problems of top players were predictable even before FIFA’s first expanded tournament.

These were not bold predictions. The schedule was already tight due to match backlogs from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 winter World Cup, and a bigger Champions League. FIFPro, the international players’ union, had repeatedly warned about rising injuries and burnout. Yet, the answer was more football than ever. The authorities are not taking players and coaches seriously. The danger is that the top stars will have nothing left when the World Cup, which has expanded to 48 teams for the first time, takes place next year in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

England and Chelsea Lose Their Key Player

Palmer is a clear example. The 23-year-old was instrumental in Chelsea’s Club World Cup victory, where they beat Dembele’s PSG in the final, but he has barely been seen this season. There is a strong feeling that Palmer has played too much. A groin injury has troubled him for a year, and while there is no sign yet that he needs surgery, it’s hard not to think he is in what Arsene Wenger used to call the “red zone.”

This should be a major concern. A Chelsea or England match without Palmer is not the same. He is incredibly talented, but everyone has a physical limit. It is absurd that Palmer has not had a proper rest for three summers in a row. He helped the England U21 team win the 2023 European Championship, played a key role as the senior team reached the Euro 2024 final, and continued playing for Chelsea until mid-July last season in the Club World Cup.

When does it stop? Palmer played 57 matches for his club and country in the 2023/24 season – his first full year as a senior international and Premier League player. Last season, he missed the Conference League group stage but featured in the knockout rounds and was named man of the match when Chelsea beat Real Betis 4-1 in the final at the end of May. The match against PSG was Palmer’s 55th of that campaign. He also played for England in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra in early June.

So, it is no surprise that Palmer has missed many games this season. He has a long-term issue, but it could have likely been managed if he had been allowed a holiday last summer. This is not a controversial view. Chelsea received no special treatment, with a condensed preseason that lasted just two weeks. The game against PSG was on July 13, and Palmer was in the starting lineup when a tired, unprepared Chelsea began their season with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace on August 17.

A Disastrous Start for Chelsea

Enzo Maresca could not have known how the extra workload and lack of preparation time would affect his players. However, it is now clear that Chelsea is struggling. Levi Colwill tore his ACL on the first day of preseason. Liam Delap injured his hamstring against Fulham, and Dario Essugo had hip surgery. Tosin Adarabioyo and Andrey Santos are also injured. Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Joao Pedro are playing through pain.

FIFpro’s annual player workload report concluded that players who took part in the Club World Cup after their domestic league season ended were among hundreds at the top of men’s football who did not get enough preseason preparation. This negatively impacted their performance and increased their injury risk. Last week, Maresca commented on the number of injuries at Chelsea and PSG:

Is anyone listening? Arsenal‘s Noni Madueke, who left Chelsea after the Club World Cup semi-final, is out for two months with a knee injury. PSG beat Barcelona last week without Marquinhos, Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, and Dembele. Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz have also had problems. PSG returned to European competition for the UEFA Super Cup on August 13. The show goes on.

Real Madrid Also Has Problems

Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid are not playing. Alexander-Arnold had a grueling title-winning season with Liverpool, signed for Real Madrid, helped them reach the Club World Cup semi-finals, and is now out with a torn hamstring. In May, Thomas Tuchel said Bellingham should have had surgery on a shoulder injury. However, the operation was postponed because of the demanding schedule, forcing the young player to play through the pain.

Why deny it? Some have pointed out that players who were not at the Club World Cup have also gotten injured. This is a poor defense of the tournament. Players will get injured. But injuries and fatigue are increasing. It seems wrong for authorities to force more games, essentially risking the very product they want to sell. Football is not better when the best players are missing or exhausted.

And yes, Igor Jesus played for Botafogo at the Club World Cup and has since looked promising for Nottingham Forest. However, Botafogo had not played a full season before the tournament started and were knocked out in the round of 16. They finished in late June. The difference with Chelsea is clear. Igor Jesus played in a less intense league. The forward was not coming off a deep run in the Champions League. Chelsea is at a disadvantage even compared to PSG, who are by far the richest club in France and face less pressure in their domestic games.

It’s no wonder Tuchel predicted that Arsenal and Liverpool would have an advantage over Chelsea and Manchester City this season. City does not look weak – perhaps because they were knocked out of the Club World Cup in the round of 16. But Chelsea is mentally and physically drained. They are a warning to others. The question is whether FIFA cares.