The Football Association has identified fixture congestion as a major threat to player welfare and England's World Cup prospects. The FA's annual report highlights how the new 32-team Club World Cup and expanded Champions League are creating unsustainable demands on elite players. With cup replays already eliminated, the governing body warns that player fatigue could compromise both domestic competitions and national team performance.

Unlike the Premier League, which has criticized FIFA for calendar changes, the FA holds direct voting rights at global governing bodies and plans to advocate for player protections. The report emphasizes that additional global tournaments risk devaluing traditional competitions like the FA Cup while reducing recovery time for players. The international players' union FIFPro has described the situation as a "perfect storm" for athletes already facing extensive travel demands.

The FA also flagged brain health concerns, citing its own research showing footballers are 3.5 times more likely to develop neurodegenerative disorders. While heading restrictions now exist for youth players, the governing body continues investing in research to understand long-term risks. Additionally, cyber security has emerged as a priority, with the FA implementing protections against potential attacks that could compromise sensitive data and disrupt events.