Phil Foden has become the latest high-profile victim of football's packed fixture schedule after being omitted from England's World Cup squad. The Manchester City midfielder, who won PFA player of the year in 2023-24, saw availability drop and performance levels decline, according to PFA chief Maheta Molango.

Arsenal's Declan Rice and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk face similar risks after playing 36 and 38 Premier League games respectively. Fifpro data shows these heavy workloads increase injury potential and reduce form, particularly concerning with both players set to feature at the upcoming tournament.

Molango fears the expanded 48-team World Cup will become "survival of the fittest" as players approach the competition having already played nearly 60 games. The congested calendar prioritizes commercial interests over player welfare and the quality of competition.