Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has voiced his concerns regarding FIFA's lack of consultation with domestic governing bodies in the planning of the revamped Club World Cup. He stressed the necessity for these bodies to be involved in future discussions about the tournament.

Masters' comments come shortly after the conclusion of the expanded 32-team Club World Cup held in the United States, with Chelsea defeating Paris St Germain in the final. Manchester City also participated, losing to Al-Hilal. The new Premier League season is set to commence on Friday, leaving a narrow window of fewer than five weeks since the Club World Cup final.

A primary concern for Masters, and a continuing topic of conversation within football, is player welfare, particularly in relation to the number of matches played during a season. He acknowledged that the true impact of FIFA's new Club World Cup format would only be fully understood during the upcoming season.

"The Club World Cup in its current form – once every four years, 32 teams – has only just come in and I suppose the jury is out on how successful it's been," Masters stated. He further emphasized that "The leagues and the players have not been consulted at all on the timing, the scheduling of the competition".

Masters is advocating for a more inclusive approach moving forward. "Whatever iteration of it may come next, we do need to be consulted on that because obviously it does have an impact on the scheduling of the Premier League season – that much is clear," he explained. He is calling "for a seat at the table, for proper discussion for the leagues – not just for the Premier League but for all domestic competitions – when you're scheduling new competitions".

Historically, FIFA's role has been to regulate the global game and oversee international football. However, the expansion of the Club World Cup and the lack of consultation have raised questions about the impact on domestic leagues and player welfare.

Earlier in the summer, England manager Thomas Tuchel suggested that the participation of Manchester City and Chelsea in the Club World Cup could give other teams, such as Liverpool and Arsenal, an advantage in the title race.

The revamped Club World Cup featured 32 teams and attracted close to 2.5 million fans to 11 cities across the United States. FIFA considers the event a success, and a valuable precursor to the 2026 World Cup. Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, noted the excitement for the 2026 World Cup is growing. The application period for the first ticket draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will open on September 10, 2025.