New global football players union launched in Madrid amid rift with FIFPRO

A new global football players’ body opened a fresh front in the battle over who speaks for professionals worldwide, with unions from Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland unveiling the International Footballers’ Association in Madrid and installing David Aganzo to lead it. The group says it represents nearly 30,000 footballers, but its arrival immediately sharpened the rivalry with FIFPRO, the established global union that says it speaks for more than 60,000 players through 70 national associations.

The split matters because it is not simply a branding dispute. It goes to the core of collective bargaining in a sport stretched by a crowded international calendar, rising commercial demands and recurring fights over workload, health and equality. AIF’s backers say the new structure will strengthen players’ rights and create a more direct channel to governing bodies. For FIFA and other regulators, that could mean one more player-side interlocutor in negotiations over tournaments, rest periods and dispute resolution. For players, it raises a more immediate question: whether a divided representation landscape gives them more leverage or weakens it.

Aganzo’s appointment gives the project added weight. He heads Spain’s players’ association, AFE, and previously served as FIFPRO president, a résumé that makes him one of the few figures capable of speaking to both camps. He said the new body was not backed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, but argued that direct dialogue with FIFA was essential. He also said AIF was already in contact with 15 to 20 other unions that could join later, a sign that the Madrid launch may be the first move in a wider realignment.

The timing reflects years of strain. In 2024, FIFPRO’s relationship with FIFA deteriorated after the union filed a complaint with the European Commission over FIFA’s international match calendar, accusing football’s governing body of abuse of dominance through the addition of competitions without sufficient consultation. FIFPRO has since leaned on its institutional standing, saying its mandate comes from 70 national player associations representing more than 60,000 footballers and is formally recognised by the European Union and the International Labour Organization. It said the Madrid initiative lacked the legitimacy needed to represent players globally and was driven by personal motives rather than a worldwide mandate.

AFE’s own internal backing for the break was overwhelming. In February, its Extraordinary General Assembly approved the AIF initiative with 99.8% of votes cast in favour and also backed withdrawal from FIFPRO. That gives Aganzo a clear domestic base, but the broader test will be whether AIF can turn that mandate into negotiating power on the issues that matter most to players: fewer overloads, a fairer calendar and a stronger voice when the game’s biggest institutions decide the rules.