The founding of a fresh international footballers’ union has intensified the ongoing dispute between world football’s governing body FIFA and the established global players’ representative FIFPRO, with the Spanish-led Asociación Internacional de Futbolistas (AIF) positioning itself as a direct challenger to FIFPRO’s authority.
The AIF was officially launched in Madrid on Thursday, April 23, 2026, by David Aganzo, the former president of FIFPRO who served in that role from 2021 until 2024. Aganzo, who also leads the Spanish players’ union AFE, presented the new organization alongside representatives from national unions in Mexico, Switzerland, and Brazil’s São Paulo state. According to the AIF’s founding declaration, its core pillars are “nähe, transparenz und rechte” — closeness, transparency, and rights — with the stated ambition of becoming “the leading union for footballers worldwide.”
FIFPRO has responded critically to the AIF’s emergence, questioning its legitimacy to represent players on a global scale. In statements reported by German sports broadcaster Sportschau, FIFPRO asserted that the AIF “lacks the basic legitimacy to represent professional footballers worldwide” and suggested that Aganzo’s motivation is to “strengthen his own standing.” FIFPRO emphasized that it currently represents more than 60,000 male and female players globally and maintains formal recognition from the European Union, the International Labour Organization, and all major international football confederations.
The timing of the AIF’s launch coincides with heightened tensions between FIFPRO and FIFA, particularly regarding governance and player rights. Reports from Kicker indicate that the AIF leadership is perceived to have close ties to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, although FIFA itself told Sportschau that it had merely been “informed like others” about the union’s creation. Sportschau further noted that suspicions within FIFPRO point to potential FIFA backing for the breakaway group, adding another layer to the already strained relationship between the players’ union and football’s world governing body.
Aganzo addressed these perceptions directly at the AIF’s launch event, stating: “We are not coming to seek a confrontation with FIFPRO.” His remarks echo a broader narrative of institutional friction, as Aganzo’s departure from FIFPRO leadership in 2024 followed pressure from the majority of national unions affiliated with the organization, who reportedly urged him to step down amid concerns over his transparency initiatives. Aganzo has since suggested in private conversations that his reform efforts within FIFPRO ultimately failed.
The schism reflects deeper structural disagreements within global football’s player representation landscape. While FIFPRO has long positioned itself as the sole legitimate international voice for footballers, the AIF’s formation signals a growing appetite for alternative models of advocacy, particularly among unions dissatisfied with FIFPRO’s perceived opacity and decision-making processes. The AFE, Aganzo’s home union, had previously exited FIFPRO in February 2026, citing lack of transparency as a key factor in its departure.
For players, the emergence of competing international unions raises practical questions about representation, collective bargaining power, and access to decision-making forums within FIFA and continental confederations. With both organizations claiming to advocate for footballers’ interests, the potential for duplicated efforts or conflicting positions could complicate negotiations over issues such as fixture congestion, transfer regulations, and concussion protocols — areas where unified player advocacy has historically been influential.
Looking ahead, the AIF has signaled plans to expand its membership rapidly, with reports indicating that several additional national football unions have signaled their intention to join the organization in the near term. The group’s next steps will likely focus on consolidating its institutional presence, engaging with FIFA and continental bodies on policy matters, and seeking formal recognition from international labour and sports authorities — a process that could take months or even years to resolve.
As the dispute between FIFPRO and the AIF continues to unfold, it underscores a pivotal moment in the evolution of football’s off-field governance. The outcome may determine not only which organization speaks for the world’s players but also how effectively those players can collectively shape the future of the sport they play.
The next major development in this story is expected at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, where both FIFPRO and the AIF may seek to advance their respective positions amid ongoing debates about the governance of global football.
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