Coaches worried by relentless run-up to World Cup

Thomas Tuchel is worried.

- Steve Madeley

NEW YORK – Thomas Tuchel is worried.

The German, England’s new manager, is concerned that his players will be burnt out by the time they arrive in North America next summer for the 2026 World Cup.

“I am not so concerned about the number of games the players play in total,” he said. “I am more concerned that they never have a real break of three to four weeks.”

Tuchel is not the first to raise the issue.

In 2024, FIFPro, the international players’ union, made its feelings known about the demands placed on athletes in the men’s game, echoing concerns expressed by a range of players – including Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Rodri – about the lack of breaks from the physical demands of competitive matches.

It will be worse for some than others.

Take Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson. He has been out injured since February but is expected to be available again soon.

It is unlikely that he will play every game possible and also that Chelsea and his national team, Senegal, will go the distance in every competition they are in. But if they did, he could theoretically be involved in more than 100 matches from now to the end of the World Cup.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi could be in a similar position. His most recent significant break from action came last summer – about a month between a couple of World Cup qualifying matches for Morocco and the start of pre-season with his club.

He is unlikely to have another lengthy breather for over a year, with club and international commitments filling his calendar well into the 2026-27 campaign if Morocco qualify for the 2026 World Cup. He could also surpass 100 games in the 470-plus days from now to the World Cup final.