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The relentless fixture congestion over the past 12 months is raising serious questions about the impact of fatigue on the performance of top footballers at the 2026 World Cup. The competitive calendar has been unforgiving, with Euro 2024, followed by the Club World Cup, and now the national team World Cup.
Accumulated fatigue is a growing concern, especially given the lack of adequate rest periods. The summer of 2025, which would traditionally offer athletes a chance to recuperate, was instead filled by the new, expanded FIFA Club World Cup format. This competition featured 74 players currently participating in the World Cup, some of whom haven't had a significant break in the last three years.
Focusing solely on the FIFA top-10 ranked nations, Portugal stands out as one of the most overburdened teams, with its players accumulating the most minutes since June 2025. This analysis considered the playing time of all summoned squad members.
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