The 2026 World Cup was a spectacle but also a marathon for players. As the 2026‑27 season kicks off, many top clubs are still dealing with the after‑effects of the tournament.

Key clubs were measured by minutes played, quarters reached, injuries and previous Club World Cup participation. Chelsea logged 2,226 minutes but has no UEFA competition this year, easing fatigue. Liverpool had 3,256 minutes yet only two players reached the quarter‑finals, and the squad suffered no serious injuries.

Other teams face heavier burdens. Manchester United (2,533 minutes) must balance a busy Champions League schedule with lingering aches, while Atlético Madrid entered with 21 players who logged 700+ La Liga minutes last season. Aston Villa lost key players like Amadou Onana and still have several stars on holiday. Borussia Dortmund missed defender Nico Schlotterbeck, and Bayern Munich, with the highest total of World Cup minutes 5,931 minutes, must manage a congested calendar.

Even youth‑skewed squads are not immune. Arsenal and Barcelona, though lacking 30‑plus outfielders, played ~4,000 minutes each and had multiple players reach the final stages. Injuries such as Saliba’s back problem and Saka’s persistent foot issue compound the risk of burnout.