Sports
English Premier League faces player fatigue and injuries as 2026 World Cup concludes
July 13, 2026 at 08:44 PM
The 33-day gap between the World Cup final and the new EPL season has left clubs racing to reintegrate players before the season starts.
- Opta data showed Manchester City led all EPL clubs with 5,027 total player minutes at the World Cup; Arsenal came second with 4,285 minutes.
- Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Belgium’s 4–1 win over the United States in the round of 16.
- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said match congestion has become unsustainable, noting some players had played 130 matches over two seasons.
- FIFA regulations grant World Cup participants at least three weeks of rest, meaning finalists will not return to their clubs before August 10.