Manchester City and Chelsea are set to face a demanding schedule next summer as they will be required to play their top squads in the FIFA Club World Cup, while also releasing players for international duty just before the tournament.
The revamped 32-team competition is slated to run in the United States from June 15 to July 13, sparking a legal challenge against FIFA by European leagues and unions. They accuse football’s governing body of monopolising control over the tournament’s timing without proper consultation regarding the broader international calendar.
Concerns from leagues about the summer event’s impact on their schedules have intensified, especially regarding how players will manage a full three-week rest and a thorough pre-season ahead of the 2025-26 season starting in August. These worries were compounded after Tuesday’s publication of the Club World Cup regulations, which mandate that clubs must field their strongest teams “throughout the tournament”.
There will also be a fine of at least £445,000 for any club that pulls out of the tournament despite fears over player burnout. Last month, City’s manager Pep Guardiola revealed that the club had requested the Premier League to postpone domestic matches to accommodate their participation in the Club World Cup, but the request was denied. Insiders pointed out that such conflicts between leagues and clubs were an inevitable consequence of FIFA’s scheduling decisions.
Chelsea’s star player, Cole Palmer, has been omitted from their squad for the Conference League’s initial phase this autumn, keeping in mind the club’s packed schedule with the London outfit also set to take part in next summer’s tournament. The Club World Cup commences on June 15, but Chelsea and City will have to release international players like Palmer and Phil Foden for the national team window running from June 2 to 10.
Interestingly, clubs participating can refuse to release players for international duty during the competition, an exception to FIFA’s standard rules. The only tournament scheduled for next summer that would typically fall under this rule is the Gold Cup, involving teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean islands.
The Africa Cup of Nations, initially set for next summer, will now start in December 2025. Clubs can include up to 35 players in their final Club World Cup squad list, with 26 named for each match day.
There will be a ‘window’ within the tournament from June 27 to July 3, where players with expiring contracts can be replaced, and up to two new summer signings can be added to the existing 35-man squad. A maximum of six changes can be made during that window.
Teams will also have to arrive at base camp between three and five days before the first game.
Players are reportedly considering boycotting their media and marketing duties as a means to highlight welfare concerns related to the tournament. Such an action would violate the tournament rules, which require clubs to ensure that players and staff participate in all such events.
The regulations also forbid players and officials from displaying any political, religious, personal messages or slogans in any language or form.
