CIES Football Observatory

Summer Series 2024

MATCH CALENDAR
AND PLAYER WORKLOAD

MATCH SCHEDULE PER CLUB

2 A GLOBAL ANALYSIS
 INTRODUCTION

The second report of the CIES Football Observatory

Summer Series on Match Calendar and Player Worklo-
ad analyses the trends in the number of official games
played by clubs in 40 leagues from five confederations
(list annexed) between the twelve-season period from
2012/13 (since July 1st) to 2023/24 (until June 30th), with
a specific analysis for the most competitive big-5 league
clubs since 2000.

As in the first report, we focus on the breakdown of

matches played by clubs (not including friendlies apart
for a specific analysis of FIFA Club World Cup winners)
according to the organiser (leagues, associations, confe-
derations and FIFA), and then project data for the period
2024-2028, taking into account the planned changes to
the format of certain competitions at both domestic and
international level.

In total, the sample includes 1,103 clubs that participated

in at least one season of the championships analysed.
The average number of teams per season over the entire
period analysed is about 663, with an increase after the
pandemic, which reflects the enlargement of some of
the domestic leagues surveyed (notably the MLS in the
United States and Canada as well as the top Argentinean
division).

Figure 1: number of clubs surveyed per season,

40 leagues

2012/13 647 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2013/14 650 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2014/15 661 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2015/16 655 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2016/17 656 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2017/18 648 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2018/19 652 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2019/20 652 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2020/21 702 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2021/22 679 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2022/23 680 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2023/24 677 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 2

 HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

Trends 2012-2024
On a seasonal average over the twelve years analysed,
the clubs surveyed played 41.5 official matches (not
including friendlies). The record low (32.7 games) was
recorded in 2019/20, when many competitions had to be
cancelled or postponed due to the health crisis, while a
maximum of 43.9 matches was observed the following
season. Apart from these cyclical variations, no lasting
changes were recorded during the period under review.

Figure 2: average number of matches, per club and season

60
High point COVID Current

50 43.9
41.8 41.8 42.6 42.4 42.5 41.6 42.5 42.5 41.7 42.4

40
32.7

30

20
2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24

UEFA Champions League participants 2000-2024

The analysis of the average number of official matches per season for the
five major European leagues’ representatives in the Champions League
since the 2000/01 season shows that the number of fixtures is relatively
stable, or even slightly down, which runs counter to the popular belief that
the match calendar is becoming more and more crowded for the top clubs.

Figure 3: average number of matches

80
High point COVID Current

70
57.9
55.2 54.8 53.7 53.5 53.9
60 52.7 53.9 52.7 53.1 54.3 53.1 53.8 53.2 54.5 54.2 53.8 54.4 54.3 52.4 52.2 51.9 50.8

50 44.1

40

30
2002/03 2005/06 2008/09 2011/12 2014/15 2017/18 2020/21 2023/24

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 3

 The specific analysis on the number of official matches
for three of the most successful and popular clubs
worldwide, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern
Munich shows that in all three cases the record number
of matches in a season dates from the decade between
2000 and 2010: 66 matches in 2001/02 for Real Madrid,
66 matches in 2008/09 for Manchester United and 57
matches in 2007/08 for Bayern Munich.

Figure 4: Number of official matches per season

(a) Real Madrid

80
66
70 62 62
61 60 60 61
59 59 58 59 59
57 57
60
56 55
51 52 52 52
50 50
48
50 High point 44

Current
40

30
2002/03 2005/06 2008/09 2011/12 2014/15 2017/18 2020/21 2023/24

(b) Manchester United

80
71
66 64
70 63 62
61 60 60
58 59
57 56 57 56 56
55 54 54 55
60 53 52
51
49
50 44*

40 High point Current

*Not qualified
for European cups
30
2002/03 2005/06 2008/09 2011/12 2014/15 2017/18 2020/21 2023/24

(c) Bayern Munich

80

70

55 56 57 55 56 55
60 53 54 53 53
51 52
49
47
49 49 48 48
50 49
47 47
49 49
50

40 High point Current

30
2002/03 2005/06 2008/09 2011/12 2014/15 2017/18 2020/21 2023/24

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 4

 Almost half of the clubs analysed played fewer than 40 Figure 5: % of clubs,
official fixtures per season over the twelve years under per number of matches per season
review (45.1%). This proportion exceeds 80% for teams
that contested a maximum of 50 matches. In contrast,
only 5.0% of the clubs studied (33 per season on ave-
rage) played at least 60 official games per season. As 80 or 0.3%
over
with the players (see first report), the proportion of clubs
with a high level of activity is relatively low.
70-79 1.2%

60-69 3.5%

50-59 11.9%

40-49 38.1%

40 or 45.1%
under

Figure 6: % of clubs with >60 matches No significant change was observed in the proportion of
per season clubs having played 60 or more matches per season over
the twelve seasons analysed. A record percentage (9.4%)
2012/13 5.1% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII was registered in the 2020/21 post-COVID season as
a result of the catch-up effect on matches postponed in
2013/14 5.1% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 2019/20. The values measured for the last two seasons
2014/15 6.5% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (3.7% for 2022/23 and 4.0% for 2023/24) are even lower
than the average recorded over the entire period (5.0%).
2015/16 5.3% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2016/17 5.5% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2017/18 4.9% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2018/19 4.1% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2019/20 0.2% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2020/21 9.4% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2021/22 5.4% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2022/23 3.7% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

2023/24 4.0% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 5

 Of the 330,748 official matches played by the teams in Figure 8: percentage of matches,
our sample between July 2012 and June 2024, 84.7% per organiser
were organised by national leagues. The proportions for
the other categories of organiser are much lower: 9.5%
for associations, 5.8% for confederations and 0.04%
for FIFA. These figures clearly show the dominant role
played by national leagues in the organisation of men’s 9.5%
club football worldwide.
5.8%

0.04%

84.7%

Leagues
Associations
Confederations
FIFA

The analysis of the evolution of the share of matches

per organiser over the twelve seasons analysed shows a
relatively stable balance between each of them. The main
change is the decline in the relative weight of associa-
tions (-1.8% of matches between 2012/13 and 2023/24)
to the benefit of confederations (+0.7%) and leagues
(+1.1%). The percentage of fixtures organised by FIFA at
club level never exceeded 0.07%.

Figure 9: percentage of matches in competitions, per organiser and season

Leagues Associations Confederations FIFA

2012/13 84.0% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 10.2% IIIII 5.7% III 0.04% I

2013/14 84.4% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9.8% IIIII 5.7% III 0.02% I

2014/15 84.0% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 10.6% IIIII 5.4% III 0.03% I

2015/16 84.0% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 10.2% IIIII 5.7% III 0.04% I

2016/17 84.2% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 10.0% IIIII 5.7% III 0.05% I

2017/18 85.0% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9.4% IIIII 5.5% III 0.05% I

2018/19 84.3% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9.8% IIIII 5.8% III 0.05% I

2019/20 84.4% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9.6% IIIII 5.9% III 0.07% I

2020/21 86.6% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 7.9% IIII 5.4% III 0.04% I

2021/22 84.8% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 8.9% IIII 6.2% III 0.04% I

2022/23 85.7% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 8.7% IIII 5.5% III 0.03% I

2023/24 85.1% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 8.4% IIII 6.4% III 0.03% I

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 6

 The national leagues are the main organisers of matches
also for the most active teams at international level. An
analysis of the distribution of fixtures played by FIFA Club
World Cup winners in the season in which they lifted the
trophy shows that almost two-thirds of their matches were
organised by a league. This proportion is almost 60%
also by including friendly matches organised by the clubs
themselves or private organisers. Friendlies accounted
for no less than 8.5% of all matches, almost as much
as for associations (9.4%) and much more than for FIFA
(3.1%).

Figure 10: % of matches per organiser, last 12-year FIFA Club World Cup winners

(a) Not including friendlies (b) Including friendlies

10.3% 19.1%
20.9% 9.4%
Leagues
8.5%
Associations
3.4% 3.1%
Confederations
Friendlies
FIFA
65.4% 59.9%

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 7

 The same analysis was carried out for the most recent
FIFA Club World Cup winner, Manchester City. In the
season just ended, the English side played 66.1% of their
official matches in competitions organised by the league.
This percentage is 62.9% if friendly matches are also
factored in, with the latter accounting for 4.8% of the total
number of games played by Manchester City between 1
July 2023 and 30 June 2024.

Figure 11: percentage of matches per organiser, Manchester City (2023-2024)

(a) Not including friendlies (b) Including friendlies

11.9%
11.3% 17.7%
18.6%
Leagues
4.8%
Associations
3.4% 3.2%
Confederations
Friendlies
FIFA
66.1% 62.9%

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 8

 PROJECTIONS 2024-2028

With regard to the projection for the next four years,

considering the most recent data and the changes made
or planned in the format of certain competitions, without
any new major modifications, the average number of
official matches played per club per season will remain
stable compared to the figures recorded during the 2020-
2024 cycle

Figure 12: average number of matches per club and sea-

son, per four-year cycle

50

46
42.14 42.65 42.66

42 39.81

38

34
2012-2016 2016-2020 2020-2024 2024-2028

With no further decline in the balance of the competi-

tions, the proportion of teams playing more than 70 or
80 matches per season will also remain stable over the
next four years. The main change will be for clubs playing
between 60 and 69 games (+0.8%) and between 50 and
59 fixtures (+0.4%), to the detriment of those playing
between 40 and 49 matches (-1.3%).

Figure 13: percentage of clubs per number of matches per season, per four-year cycle

less than 40 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80 or more

2012-2016 43.3% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 40.0% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 11.3% IIIIII 3.9% II 1.5% I 0.1% I

2016-2020 51.8% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 34.9% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9.7% IIIII 2.8% II 0.7% I 0.2% I

2020-2024 40.2% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 39.5% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 14.6% IIIIIIII 3.9% II 1.2% I 0.6% I

2024-2028 40.1% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 38.2% IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 15.0% IIIIIIII 4.7% III 1.3% I 0.6% I

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 9

 Figure 13 shows the projected changes in the percentage
of matches by type of organiser for the period 2024-2028
compared with the previous three four-year cycles. The
national leagues will continue to play a dominant role in
the organisation of men’s world football, with an increase
in the relative weight of the confederations (+1.05% to
6.95%), and FIFA, whose weight will nevertheless remain
below 0.1% (0.08%).

Figure 14: percentage of matches by competition organisers, per four-year cycle

Leagues Associations

2012- 2012-
2016 84.1% 2016 10.2%

2016- 2016-
2020 84.5% 2020 9.7%

2020- 2020-
2024 85.6% 2024 8.5%

2024- 2024-
2028 84.6% 2028 8.4%

Confederations FIFA

2012- 2012-
2016 5.6% 2016 0.03%

2016- 2016-
2020 5.7% 2020 0.06%

2020- 2020-
2024 5.9% 2024 0.04%

2024- 2024-
2028 6.9% 2028 0.08%

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 10

 CONCLUSION

No significant change in the number of official matches

played by clubs in the 40 leagues analysed was recorded
between 2012 and 2024. The same finding holds also
true for the big-5 leagues’ representatives in the UEFA
Champions League since the 2000/01 season, with even
a slight decrease in this case. Not including friendlies, the
average number of fixtures per club and season is stable
at just over 40 overall, and at just over 50 for the most
competitive European teams.

Globally, only around 5% of clubs play 60 or more ga-

mes per season, with record values measured in Brazil
and Colombia. Apart from 2020/21, when many of the
matches postponed in the previous season due to the
pandemic were finally played, the record for the number
of games by a club outside Brazil and Colombia has been
held by Chelsea since 2012/13: 69 official fixtures.

According to our projections, the main change for the

next four-year cycle will be the relative increase in the
number of teams playing between 50 and 69 official
matches per season (+1.6% to 19.7% of total clubs).
However, no major changes are expected for clubs
playing at least 70 official games per season, their share
remaining stable at less than 2% of the total number of
teams.

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 11

 Annex: leagues surveyed

Argentina Primera División Paraguay Primera División

Australia A-League Men Poland Ekstraklasa

Austria Bundesliga Portugal Primeira Liga

Belgium Pro League Qatar Stars League

Brazil Brasileirão Romania Liga I

Colombia Dimayor Saudi Arabia Saudi Pro League

Costa Rica Primera División Scotland Premiership

Czechia Czech Liga Serbia Super Liga

Denmark Superliga South Africa PSL

Ecuador Liga Pro South Korea K League 1

England Premier League Spain La Liga

France Ligue 1 Sweden Allsvenskan

Germany Bundesliga Switzerland Super League

Greece Super League 1 The Netherlands Eredivisie

Israel Ligat Ha'al Tunisia Ligue 1

Italy Serie A Turkey Süper Lig

Japan J1 League Ukraine Premier League

Latvia Virsliga United Arab Emirates UAE Pro League

Mexico Liga MX USA MLS

Norway Eliteserien Uzbekistan Super League

Match schedule per club: a global analysis 12

 Since its creation in 2005, the Football Observatory
research group within the CIES (Centre International
d’Étude du Sport) has become a reference point in the
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Match schedule per club: a global analysis 13