November 6th 2024.
Next summer, Enzo Maresca is going to have to put together a strong team for Chelsea. The Club World Cup, which used to only have seven teams competing, has been revamped by FIFA for the 2025 edition, with a total of 32 teams now set to participate. This new format has caused some controversy, with concerns over additional fixtures and an already packed football calendar. However, Chelsea, alongside Manchester City, will be representing England in the tournament, having qualified as the reigning Champions League winners under the leadership of Thomas Tuchel.
The tournament will take place from June 15 to July 13 in the United States, and Chelsea will be joined by 11 other European teams. This expansion of the tournament has also caused some scheduling conflicts, as Pep Guardiola revealed that City had requested for their domestic matches to be postponed at the start of the 2025-26 season to allow for a deep run in the Club World Cup. However, the Premier League denied their request, much to Guardiola's disappointment.
According to FIFA's regulations for the 2025 Club World Cup, participating clubs are required to field their strongest team throughout the competition. This means that Chelsea, and all the other teams, will have to adhere to this rule or face consequences. Guardiola also mentioned that City had requested for a postponement of the first or second game after the tournament, but this was also denied by the Premier League.
Any club that withdraws from the competition after submitting their participation agreement will face a fine from the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. For withdrawals made 30 days before the first match, the fine is at least CHF 250,000, while withdrawals made less than 30 days before the first match will result in a fine of at least CHF 500,000. This means that Chelsea and City will face hefty fines if they decide to withdraw from the Club World Cup tournament.
If either Chelsea or City reach the final on July 13, they will have a very short summer break before the start of the 2025-26 Premier League season. With just a four-week gap to squeeze in player holidays and pre-season preparations, it will be a challenging task for both teams. This break will also be shorter if either side qualifies for the Community Shield. The tournament will also be preceded by an international break from June 2 to June 10.
In conclusion, Chelsea and City will have to field their strongest possible team at the Club World Cup next summer, as per FIFA's regulations. Any withdrawals from the tournament will result in fines for the clubs. It will also be a tight schedule for both teams, with a short summer break and international break adding to the challenges they will face. But both clubs will be determined to compete and potentially win the prestigious tournament.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
