Football has always been described as the beautiful game, but in today’s era of an ever-expanding calendar, has it become almost impossible to fully appreciate it?
With another thrilling FIFA World Cup already producing memorable moments and plenty of surprises, there is no shortage of entertainment. Yet, for many supporters, the constant stream of matches can also feel relentless. Liam Harding explores whether football has simply become too non-stop for its own good.
The football calendar never seems to stop
There’s always a lot of hype and excitement around a World Cup, and the same has been true of the current tournament, which has certainly delivered. At the same time, though, football feels non-stop.
Since August last year, when Premier League clubs including Arsenal began their pre-season campaigns, the football calendar has barely paused. Even though we’ve witnessed some incredible upsets at this World Cup, it personally feels challenging to truly appreciate the simple nature of the game for what it is, with today’s commercial demands seemingly overriding the “beautiful game” at times.
Even between the end of the domestic season, when Arsenal lifted their first Premier League title in 22 years on 24 May, the European Champions League Final on 30 May and the start of the World Cup on 11 June, when Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 to kick off the tournament, there were only 11 days without competitive football.
That’s hardly any time for supporters to take a break from the nation’s favourite sport, one that many of us couldn’t imagine living without, yet one that can also dictate our emotions week after week.
Admittedly, we’ve had a major international tournament every two years since the European Championship was introduced in 1960, when the Soviet Union defeated Yugoslavia 2-1 in the inaugural final. However, with modern domestic seasons now regularly finishing in late May rather than much earlier, neither supporters nor players seem to get much of a breather anymore.
From Budapest to the World Cup: When do Arsenal’s stars actually get a break?
Is the modern game asking too much of players and supporters?
Last season, Mikel Arteta’s side competed in a club-record 63 matches in all competitions, what ESPN described as a “mammoth” campaign, before 15 Arsenal players headed straight to the World Cup, with many of them still involved.
If one or more Arsenal players were to reach the World Cup final on 19 July, they would have less than a month before the Gunners begin the 2026/27 Premier League season against Coventry City. Realistically, they wouldn’t get a proper opportunity to recover until the final weekend of next May, which doesn’t feel particularly healthy from a human perspective, despite the wages many people point to.
Of course, some would argue that footballers are paid accordingly and understand exactly what they sign up for. However, like anyone else, players face their own physical and mental challenges, and constant demands inevitably take their toll.
Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, now FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, suggested in 2021 that there should eventually be a major international tournament every year. While such an idea may be more acceptable in today’s football landscape than it once was, is it really healthy for the long-term wellbeing of everyone connected with the game?
There comes a point where people’s health, recovery and overall wellbeing, as well as the pure simplicity of football itself, should come first.
At times, however, it doesn’t feel that way in a sport that continues to generate billions every year through every possible avenue.
If international tournaments were held every summer, supporters would surely begin taking them for granted even more than they already do, and perhaps those running the game would too.
Liam Harding
What do you think, Gooners? Has the modern football calendar become too crowded, or do you enjoy having elite football to watch almost all year round? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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I said for a while I think sport reflects society
especially with social media , I think people are conditioned to instead of celebrating people , to tear them down .
So when Arsenal become Prem Champions it’s …..oh your not champions of Europe
Messi at 38 scores goals at a WC it’s ….oh but it’s easy
Mbappe has a great season it’s ….oh his attitude must be to blame
Etc
Yes, there are too many football games for the fans, the players and the coaches
But I don’t think the football associations will be willing to reduce the number of games significantly because too much money is involved in modern football industry
The players should also be willing to reduce their salaries if they play much fewer games, which I don’t think they’ll be happy with that idea
Gotanidea,
Sadly Money destroyed football long ago. I agree with you regards the players wouldn’t like to take a pay cut.
They complain about the amount of games they play, but if you’re question was asked of them, they wouldn’t agree to it as you rightly say.
It’s such a shame that these owners didn’t get together years ago and come up with a plan regarding what they were willing to pay players.
And for me, if any player didn’t like what was on offer, my response would have been plain and simple to him. If you don’t like what’s on offer, join the real world and see how you like the Job Centre.
I think the football club owners are happy with the huge amount of games because more matches bring more profit, despite having to pay more for player salary and transfers
but let’s be honest peeps
the moment it is every announced competitions are being cancelled or reduced for players to have a rest …..clubs would be flying them halfway around the world to play in a friendly
Dan,
Maybe it’s time when players are negotiating contracts, they stipulate what comps they’re willing to play in.
If they don’t want to play in these meaningless tour games, then have it written into the contracts. If the club agrees to this, then there in no place to complain are they.
Of course this will never happen. But just a thought.
Of course there are more games, especially internationally, as there are more countries due to the end of the Cold War in the late ’80’s and the Balkan War in the ’90’s. That then means there are more clubs in European competitions.
BTW, the record amount of games The Arsenal played in a season is 70, in the 79/80 season. One player, Brian ‘Noddy’ Talbot played in every game.
Yep and I doubt he whinged once about it .
Not like these little girls these days .