Harry Kane sends warning over burnout fears and claims players are being ignored

England captain Harry Kane is set for another mammoth season for both club and country, with the newly expanded Club World Cup meaning his next break won’t be until the summer of 2027

Harry Kane has accused football’s governing bodies of cocking a deaf ear to players’ fears of burnout. The England captain faces a potential monster workload of 66 games for club and country this season – and he does not expect to get a full summer break until 2027.

Kane, who will be 32 in July, warned: “I don’t think the players are listened to that much, if I’m totally honest.”

After 37 goals in 44 appearances for Bayern Munich and England this season, Kane could play another eight games in the Bundesliga, five in the Champions League, two for the Three Lions in June and possibly seven more at the expanded Club World Cup in the United States.

He is happy to plough on, if required, until the Club World Cup final on July 13 – by which time clubs in all of Europe’s major leagues will be back in pre-season training. Kane said: “It’s a hard situation. There is arguments from the clubs’ point of view, to generate more money, because we probably earn more money.

“And there’s also a player welfare point where there’s only so much you can do without more injuries and more situations like that. It is a real hard balance. I don’t think the players are listened to that much, if I’m totally honest, but everyone wants their piece, their tournament, their prize, and the players are the people who have to get on with it.

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“I love playing football, so I’m never going to complain about playing football. I think if you manage it well, with your coaches and your clubs, there’s ways of getting more rest in certain moments.

“But it’s not an easy situation. I think there could be a balance from both sides, but we’ll have to see how that pans out.”

After this season, Kane hopes to lead England to the 2026 World Cup finals in the US, Mexico and Canada – his third consecutive summer of non-stop football.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has also spoken of his concerns, suggesting that the traditional June international window could be scrapped to give players a proper break. He said: “The June window is not ideal for anyone, especially the players. But it’s there.

“I think it’s FIFA who can maybe align the calendar and maybe find a gap where we put this window somewhere else to open the window for the better of the players.

“I am just worried about the pause of the players. I am not so concerned about the amount of games the players play in total. I am more concerned that they never have a real break of three to four weeks.

“Maybe they have three weeks holiday but maybe after five days they play another competition. That’s the problem. They should have a minimum three or three and a half weeks of preparation and then it would be better for everyone.”

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