FIFA is set to initiate discussions led by Arsène Wenger focused on enhancing player welfare, which may involve considerations for limiting the number of matches played during a packed schedule and instituting mandatory off-season breaks.
On Monday, FIFA announced that a task force headed by Wenger will "convene in the coming weeks," comprising representatives from the global players' union FIFPRO, clubs, domestic leagues, and national federations. These groups previously participated in a stakeholder committee that FIFA disbanded in 2021.
The new task force will address various aspects, including operational, medical, regulatory, and legal viewpoints, although FIFA did not provide a specific timeline or decision-making process.
This consultation comes as FIFA faces mounting legal pressure to engage more with stakeholders, highlighted by a formal complaint submitted to the European Commission in Brussels this month by union and league representatives.
The complaint referenced European competition law regarding FIFA's expansion of men's competitions, which has increased the workload for elite players and led some to consider striking.
FIFA stated that the task force will offer recommendations based on the latest scientific research concerning players' physical and mental health.
Additionally, FIFA collaborates with the World Health Organization to promote best practices in managing head injuries.
Wenger, who has served as FIFA's head of global soccer development since 2019, previously managed Arsenal.