World Players Summit reinforces athlete solidarity and knowledge-sharing

• FIFPRO delegates from 15 countries joined athlete representatives from around the world at the World Players Summit in Washington, D.C.
• Player welfare, women's football, governance reform and collective bargaining were among the key topics discussed across four days of sessions and workshops
• The summit reinforced a shared commitment to ensuring players have a stronger voice in decisions affecting their careers, health and working conditions

Player association leaders, experts and athlete representatives from across the globe gathered in Washington, D.C. this week for the World Players Summit, a landmark event that highlighted the growing strength of athlete representation and collective action ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Hosted by World Players in partnership with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) and the AFL-CIO, the four-day summit brought together player associations from a wide range of sports to exchange knowledge on collective bargaining, governance, health and safety, player development and advocacy.

The event also marked the formal launch of World Players' new independent structure, reinforcing a shared commitment to ensuring athletes have a strong and independent voice in shaping their careers, health and futures.

FIFPRO was represented by delegates from Botswana, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, Guatemala, Italy, Korea, New Zealand, Panama, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa, USA and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from FIFPRO Africa and FIFPRO Asia/Oceania.

Player voice

A recurring theme throughout the summit was the importance of player empowerment through education, organisation and social dialogue.

Speaking on the panel Where Power is Shifting: Lessons from Women's Sport, FIFPRO’s Director of Women’s Football Dr Alex Culvin reflected on the progress achieved around player conditions at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. Dr Culvin highlighted how players successfully pushed for improvements in areas such as travel, accommodation and delegation sizes, while warning that advances in women’s football require constant vigilance to protect.

Dr Culvin also addressed athlete concerns regarding the upcoming Women's Olympic Football Tournament in 2028 during the panel Changing the Olympic Model: Athletes, Power and Governance.

“While of course the Olympics is an exciting competition, participation is not guaranteed,” said Dr Culvin. “There are elements that concern both FIFPRO and the WPA around occupational health and safety and regulatory issues - this ranges from the smaller squad sizes at the Games compared to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, shortened rest periods between fixtures and insufficient travel conditions. 

“Ultimately, the big challenge is shifting player perception from gratitude to value: educated players make educated decisions, so providing players with the tools to do that is extremely important.”

FIFPRO’s Legal Director Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud spoke on the Union Busting in the Context of Sport panel, where different strategies to gain leverage to negotiate were highlighted.

Player-centric panels

Elsewhere at the summit, FIFPRO Africa General Secretary Kgosana Masaseng shared insights into the continued growth of player representation across the continent during the panel When the Governing Body is the Problem. Reflecting on FIFPRO Africa's expansion from three members in 2007 to representation across 26 countries today, Masaseng emphasised the need to move beyond governance models that treat players as participants rather than workers.

Masaseng highlighted examples of progress through collective bargaining agreements in Botswana and South Africa, as well as social dialogue initiatives in Ghana that have secured players a seat at key decision-making tables. He also underlined the importance of partnerships with leagues and other stakeholders, noting that meaningful change requires broad collaboration rather than isolated discussions within the football community.

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania Secretary General Shoko Tsuji raised concerns about the AFC's lack of participation agreements with players, where prize money remains among the lowest globally and is paid to federations without guaranteeing a direct share to players. Tsuji also addressed the growing threat of online abuse, framing it as a workplace safety issue, with AI-generated content and the rise of betting culture compounding dangers for players globally.

Health and wellbeing 

Health and wellbeing remained another key focus throughout the summit. FIFPRO’s Medical Director Prof Dr Vincent Gouttebarge called for greater player education around load management, arguing that athlete welfare strategies should prioritise long-term career sustainability rather than short-term availability. 

Discussions also explored mental health protections, minimum standards and the growing challenges posed by online abuse and emerging technologies.

The summit concluded with a clear, unified message: athlete power is most effective when it is organised, informed and together.