Chelsea have been told they must field their strongest possible XI at the new, expanded version of the Club World Cup in the United States next summer.
The Club World Cup used to be contested by only seven teams – but FIFA have revamped the competition for 2025 – with a total of 32 sides now set to take part.
The first Club World Cup under the new format takes place from June 15 to July 13, with Chelsea one of two English sides, featuring alongside Manchester City.
Chelsea qualified because they won the Champions League title under Thomas Tuchel in 2020-21 and they will be joined by 11 other European teams.
FIFA’s decision to expand the Club World Cup – which Chelsea won for the very first time in 2021 – has attracted controversy, with some European leagues and unions concerned over extra fixtures and expanding the footballing calendar.
Pep Guardiola revealed last month that top-flight champions City had asked for domestic matches to be postponed at the start of 2025-26 – to accommodate a deep run at the Club World Cup – but admitted the Premier League had refused.
‘The Premier League [has] not allowed us to postpone – and Chelsea, I think, all the teams that will go to the World Cup – the first two games to have more recovery,’ Guardiola said. ‘Thank you so much! They don’t postpone these games.
What has FIFA told participating clubs?
According to FIFA’s official regulations for the 2025 Club World Cup…
“By signing the Participation Agreement, each participating club automatically undertakes to: a) observe and comply with and ensure that their Delegation Members also observe and comply with these Regulations and the principles of fair play; b) observe and comply with all applicable laws; c) observe and comply with all reasonable instructions and decisions taken by the bodies and officials of FIFA in accordance with the terms of these Regulations; d) field their strongest team throughout the Competition.”
‘I think the club asked the Premier League, [for] the first or second game, to postpone it one or two, three weeks, in the middle [of the] week, to have one more week or two more weeks’ holidays after the World Cup.’
Asked to clarify if a request had not been allowed, the City manager added: ‘Absolutely not. The Premier League say yes to us? No. Absolutely not. It’s not going to happen.’
Chelsea and Man City will face fine if they withdraw
According to FIFA’s official regulations for the 2025 Club World Cup…
“Any club that, after having submitted the Participation Agreement, withdraws from the Competition no later than 30 days before the first match of the Competition shall be fined at least CHF 250,000 by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. Any participating club that, after having submitted the Participation Agreement, withdraws from the Competition fewer than 30 days before the first match of the Competition shall be fined at least CHF 500,000 by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.”
Should Chelsea or City reach the final of the the 2025 Club World Cup on July 13, they would be set for an incredibly short summer break.
They’d have just a four-week gap to squeeze in player holidays and pre-season preparations before the start of the 2025-26 Premier League season, which will be even shorter if either side qualifies for the Community Shield.
Just before the Club World Cup gets underway, there is also an international break which runs from June 2 to June 10.
Chelsea and City will face a fine from FIFA if they decide to withdraw from the Club World Cup tournament.
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