Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has echoed calls for increased accountability in football, urging Fifa to "strategically consider our sport" as tensions over the expanding football calendar persist. Garber expressed enthusiasm for Fifa's upcoming Club World Cup, scheduled for next summer in the US, but also empathized with those opposing fixture congestion. This includes the players' union Fifpro, which recently initiated a legal challenge against Fifa for insufficient consultation on its expansion plans.
"The world is shrinking, and with that, sports are evolving," Garber remarked during Leaders Week in London. "We must all be thoughtful and strategic, mindful of the impact on fans and stakeholders." He referenced the English fans' and Premier League's reaction to the Super League, emphasizing the importance of making decisions with a long-term perspective. "I can't criticize others; I'm not part of Fifa's decision-making process. My role is to engage with Fifa leaders to ensure they understand the implications of their decisions. This applies not just to the global governing body but to all of us, requiring leadership and strategic thinking about our sport."
MLS will field two teams in the upcoming Club World Cup, despite the competition still lacking a broadcast deal with only months until the event. La Liga President Javier Tebas recently called for the tournament's cancellation, but Garber defended it, stating, "We'll have at least two teams participating, which will be valuable for our league. We've been striving to demonstrate our competitiveness against global clubs, and this is the best way to do so." Garber acknowledged the need to be mindful of the calendar and understood Tebas's concerns, advocating for a more inclusive decision-making process, including for the Club World Cup.
