Pep Guardiola has voiced deep concerns about the toll the expanded Club World Cup could take on Manchester City’s 2025–26 season. The City manager warned that the new 32-team format of the tournament, currently taking place in the United States, might “destroy” his side’s campaign due to its impact on player fitness and preparation time.
City begin their Club World Cup journey against Al-Hilal in the last 16 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. However, the preparation has been far from ideal. While some of Guardiola’s players returned from international duty just five days ago, others had a longer three-week break. Guardiola stressed that the squad would be given at least three weeks of rest after the tournament, but the congested calendar remains a serious concern.
England manager Thomas Tuchel recently claimed that Premier League sides not participating in the Club World Cup, such as Liverpool and Arsenal, will have a significant advantage next season. Guardiola acknowledged the comment but admitted he tries not to dwell on the issue for fear of anxiety, saying the consequences may only become fully visible midway through the campaign.
He admitted that come November or December, City might be in crisis, feeling the effects of a condensed schedule. “Maybe I’ll say, ‘We are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us.’ I don’t know, but this is the first time in our lives we’ve faced this,” Guardiola said.
Despite the uncertainty, Guardiola is determined to focus on the positives and use the competition to help City recover their rhythm and identity. He views the Club World Cup not only as a trophy to compete for but as an opportunity to re-energise the squad after a draining campaign.
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp recently described the winner of this year’s Club World Cup as potentially the “worst of all time,” due to the fatigue they may suffer in the months ahead. Guardiola, who has shared a long-standing professional relationship with Klopp, said he understood where those comments were coming from. He recalled previous discussions with Klopp on improving the football calendar to benefit players and managers, expressing sympathy with the German’s perspective.
Guardiola emphasized that while managers are obliged to follow the rules set by FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League, there is often a sense of frustration. He noted that teams not involved in the tournament might criticize it out of jealousy, as they miss out on the exposure and financial benefits that come with participation.
City’s match against Al-Hilal kicks off at 9pm local time, with rain and lightning in the forecast. Guardiola, with a touch of humour, admitted that controlling the weather was one thing still beyond his managerial powers.
Al-Hilal will be without key players Salem Al-Dawsari and Aleksandar Mitrović, both sidelined by injury.
