According to LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, footballers who are taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup should be prepared to manage their responsibilities with the busy football calendar that keeps growing each year.
He made it clear that players from the top European clubs do not necessarily go through more difficulties than those representing teams from other continents.
LAFC and their 38-year-old goalkeeper became the last of 32 teams to qualify for the first edition of FIFA’s newly expanded Club World Cup.
Their place was secured after a 2-1 win in extra time against Club America, taking the spot left vacant following Club Leon’s disqualification. FIFA removed Club Leon from the tournament for violating rules on owning multiple clubs.
Ongoing Disputes Around FIFA’s New Tournament
Many club officials, national leagues, and players’ unions have been pushing back against FIFA’s new summer event. One of their main arguments is the added pressure on players’ health, with top athletes expected to handle heavier workloads under tighter timeframes.
But Lloris, who had an outstanding 19-year football career in Europe before joining LAFC in 2024, does not seem too concerned. He spent years as the first-choice goalkeeper for the France national team and played for clubs like Nice, Lyon, and Tottenham Hotspur before his free transfer move to Major League Soccer.
Speaking on the current state of football’s intensity, Lloris said, “When I signed for MLS, I thought the matches would be less intense than those in Europe.”
“But I quickly noticed that the travel demands are heavy, there are plenty of matches, and players are still involved in the Champions League, the Concacaf tournaments, the Club World Cup, and the cup games against Mexican clubs.”
He also mentioned, “These days, football is busy everywhere. Players must learn how to adjust to the full schedule. Being part of the Club World Cup is exciting for players.
When it’s over, especially for those from Europe, decisions will need to be made about how many days or weeks to rest both mentally and physically before the next season begins.”
“For our team, once this tournament ends, we return straight to the MLS routine, which is also very demanding. Players don’t have much of a choice except to adjust to what is in front of them. I’m not trying to complain about the calendar. What matters now is that we are glad to be involved and we want to give it our best,” he added.
