Pique adds to the chorus of dissatisfaction with the fixture list: Too many games

Gerard Pique, a former Barcelona and Spain defender, stated on Wednesday that in order to alleviate the fixture burden on players, top-tier leagues should cut back on the number of teams they have and refrain from introducing new competitions.

Pique’s remarks were made the same week when Spain’s La Liga and the European Leagues Association, FIFPRO Europe, jointly complained to European Union antitrust authorities regarding FIFA’s international fixture calendar.

FIFA has expanded the World Cup to 48 teams starting in 2026 and added a new Club World Cup with 32 teams starting the following year. In addition, UEFA added more Champions League matchdays starting this season and launched the Nations League in 2018.

Pique stated that finding a solution was the duty of all football organizations.

“There are too many games, and players are now complaining that they are getting hurt. “We don’t have time to rest in the summer because there are games every three days,” the 37-year-old said to The Summit during Leaders Week London.

He went on to say, “I would suggest reducing the games,” when asked what he would do if he were in control of international football. “Go to the leagues and ask, ‘Hey, why don’t you do leagues of 16 teams instead of 20….

“At the same time, I would approach UEFA and ask them why they created the Nations League, a new tournament that is hard to follow, and I would approach FIFA and tell them to stop doing the FIFA World Cup of clubs that they have now created.

“I understand that they want to generate more revenues, but for the sake of football, I think that it could be much better to have less games, more premium and more exclusive (experiences) and it will be much easier also to follow from the audience point of view, and for players it will be less games.”

Pique, who resigned from Barcelona in 2022, won three Champions League trophies and nine La Liga titles. He currently owns a seven-a-side football, gaming, and entertainment business.