- Aug 21, 2016
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FIFPro have done a study on this. IIRC they found that injuries will be increased significantly by lack of rest period following this mid season tournament. In normal circumstances I don't see why a replay 2 days later couldn't happen (World Cup final is normally 6 weeks before the start of the season).
But under the current circumstances it would pretty much be impossible. Players would be returning near to Christmas without any time to rest.
Yeah, this WC is a one off with its circumstances. In normal scheduling a replay would just mean a few players go on their holidays a few days later than planned. It should be part of the discussions around WC 2026.
What is the source for the FIFPro study? Like I said, half the two squads involved in a replay would have hardly played the whole tournament. Clubs are already managing the fitness regimes of squads of players in busy schedules without a mid-season rest period.