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Premier League CEO Richard Masters dismissed reducing the league to 18 teams, reaffirming the 20-club structure despite player workload concerns, prioritizing domestic football.
Premier League: Manchester United and Arsenal in action (AP)
Premier League CEO Richard Masters has dismissed speculation that the league could be reduced to 18 teams, reaffirming that the top flight will maintain its traditional 20-club structure despite mounting pressure over player workload and fixture congestion.
Recent reports had suggested the Premier League was considering a move to trim the number of teams as a response to the increasingly crowded football calendar.
However, Masters confirmed that no such changes are being considered at this time.
Packed Schedules Raising Player Welfare Concerns
The Premier League continues to face scrutiny over the intensifying schedule, especially as international and domestic competitions expand. Players, coaches, and clubs have increasingly voiced frustration over the lack of adequate rest and recovery time between seasons.
This summer has been particularly demanding, with several Premier League clubs taking part in the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
The tournament left just a three-week window for pre-season preparations before the 2025–26 campaign kicks off on August 15.
While acknowledging the global growth of football, Masters emphasized that international expansion must not come at the cost of domestic competitions.
“I am all for the growth of the game and the exciting competitions our clubs can participate in — but not at the expense of domestic football,” Masters told the BBC.
Club World Cup Criticized for Disrupting Off-Season
The 32-team Club World Cup, held for the first time in a summer format, significantly shortened the off-season for top clubs. The compressed break has led to player fatigue and questions over long-term health and performance.
Masters stressed that evaluating the tournament’s success is not within his remit, but insisted that domestic football must not be sidelined.
“The jury is out about the competitiveness of the format and the scheduling and the underlying economics, but it is not my job to assess the success or otherwise of the Club World Cup,” he said. “It is my job to assess whether these new competitions have an impact on the domestic calendar and domestic competitions, of which the Premier League is one.”
“Since 1994, the Premier League has been 380 matches, 20 clubs. We haven’t changed shape at all,” he noted. “Now we are starting to redesign our domestic calendar at the altar of European and global expansion.”
Masters also criticized the lack of meaningful consultation between FIFA and other major leagues.
“There has to be, at the top of the game, a proper dialogue between FIFA and all the stakeholders about how these things go forward. That has been sadly missing,” he added
