Man City face the risk of a substantial FIFA fine and have been given a strict deadline as a potential worst-case scenario unfolds for Pep Guardiola.

The new 32-team Club World Cup is set to be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, sparking a legal complaint against FIFA. Manchester City and Chelsea are facing a challenging schedule next summer, as they’ll need to field their best squads for the Club World Cup while also releasing players for international duty right before the tournament begins.

This expanded Club World Cup has led to a legal dispute with European leagues and unions, who accuse FIFA of monopolizing control over the tournament’s timing without adequate consultation about its impact on the wider international calendar. League officials are increasingly concerned about the effect of the summer event on player schedules, especially regarding rest and pre-season preparation ahead of the 2025-26 season. These worries intensified after FIFA released the tournament’s regulations on Tuesday, requiring clubs to use their strongest line-ups “throughout the tournament.”

Clubs face fines of at least £445,000 if they withdraw from the tournament amid player burnout concerns. Last month, Pep Guardiola disclosed that City had asked the Premier League to reschedule domestic matches to accommodate the Club World Cup, but the request was denied. Insiders say these tensions between leagues and clubs are an expected outcome of FIFA’s scheduling choices.

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was left out of their Conference League squad this fall, mindful of the club’s congested schedule, as Chelsea will also compete in the Club World Cup next summer. The tournament kicks off on June 15, but Chelsea and City must release players, including Palmer and Phil Foden, for the international window from June 2 to June 10.

Interestingly, participating clubs have the option to withhold players from international duty during the tournament, a rare exception to FIFA’s usual rules. The Gold Cup, involving teams from North, Central America, and the Caribbean, is the only tournament next summer typically subject to this rule. Meanwhile, the Africa Cup of Nations, initially planned for next summer, has been moved to December 2025.

Each club’s final Club World Cup squad can include up to 35 players, with 26 eligible for each game. A substitution window between June 27 and July 3 allows clubs to replace players with expiring contracts and add up to two new signings within a limit of six total changes.

Teams are required to arrive at base camp three to five days before their opening game. Players are reportedly considering boycotting media and marketing duties to protest welfare issues related to the tournament, which would breach tournament rules mandating club participation in promotional events.

Regulations also prohibit any political, religious, or personal messages or slogans by players and officials.

Manchester City finished the 2023/24 season with a fourth consecutive Premier League title but missed out on another Treble after losing in the FA Cup final and Champions League quarter-finals. Now, Pep Guardiola and his team turn their focus to the transfer window. Our MEN City experts will keep fans updated on all Etihad news this summer and beyond.