France's Kounde Sounds Alarm on Packed Football Schedule, Citing Player Wellbeing Risks

Barcelona and France international Jules Kounde has urged football’s governing bodies to reflect on the increasingly congested match calendar, warning that the relentless pace of fixtures is beginning to damage the sport as a whole.

Kounde has been included in France’s squad for their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland. Speaking ahead of the matches, the 26-year-old admitted that the workload is not only affecting players but also families, staff and everyone connected to football.

“It’s not just about the players,” Kounde said. “There are families. I also think about all the people who work around football and who are sometimes victims of this relentless pace.”

The defender stressed that the intense schedule is eroding appreciation for the sport. “Sometimes in life, when we overdo things, we stop appreciating them. When we see too much, we no longer give it the same importance. That’s what’s happening with football — it’s overconsumption.”

A congested calendar takes its toll

Kounde was not part of Barcelona’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign, staged in the United States from 14 June to 13 July. Even so, he highlighted the tournament’s disruptive impact on an already packed season. The inaugural 32-team edition added 63 matches to the summer calendar and forced many clubs into an even tighter turnaround before the new domestic campaigns.

The Frenchman pointed to the growing list of injuries among top players as evidence that the system is under strain. Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki and Arsenal’s William Saliba both withdrew from France’s squad through injury, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele missed training this week due to a thigh issue. PSG, who reached the Club World Cup final, played a staggering 65 matches across the 2024–25 season.

Kounde explained that such demands are unsustainable. “It’s a whole ecosystem,” he said, emphasising that the relentless pressure affects not only physical performance but also mental health and family life.

The growing criticism of the football calendar has been echoed by players’ unions, coaches and clubs who argue that injuries, burnout and declining quality on the pitch are inevitable consequences.

Kounde urged FIFA and UEFA to consider the long-term impact. “These are things we need to put into perspective,” he concluded. “And I think they need to change.”