Association of International Footballers launches as new global player union

The Association of International Footballers launched on 23 April as a new global player union. The body is led by David Aganzo, chairman of the Spanish union AFE, and claims to represent more than 30,000 active footballers worldwide.

The launch announcement set out the body's vice-presidents, Rinaldo Martorelli, head of the São Paulo footballers' union, and Lucien Valloni, leader of the Swiss footballers' association. AIF said it will attend the next FIFA Congress and the 2026 World Cup, positioning itself as a counterpart to FIFPRO in player representation at the global level.

The new federation enters a contested space in international football governance, where representation of players sits alongside ongoing debates over fixture congestion, commercial revenues, and player welfare.