The new FIFA Club World Cup trophy.
Image credit: iDiski Times
The Premier League has confirmed that Chelsea and Manchester City will not receive a delayed start to the 2025/26 season, despite their heavy fixture congestion due to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
The league, while acknowledging the scheduling challenges, insists that the issue stems from UEFA and FIFA’s competition expansions, not its own decisions.
City could face up to 11 additional matches this season, adding to their already demanding schedule.
The new expanded Club World Cup, set to take place in the USA from June 15 to July 13, will see Pep Guardiola’s squad play at least three group-stage matches and potentially four more in the knockout rounds if they progress to the final.
Additionally, their Champions League campaign has already included extra matches due to the revamped group-stage format.
City failed to qualify automatically for the round of 16, meaning they now have two extra play-off matches before reaching the knockout stage.
With the Premier League season kicking off on August 16, City and Chelsea will have little time to recover from their summer commitments.
Premier League Stance: No Fixture Adjustments
Despite acknowledging the fixture congestion, Premier League Chief Football Officer Tony Scholes made it clear that no special accommodations will be made:
We’re having this imposed upon us, particularly by FIFA. So, why would we adjust our competition when they’ve imposed a tournament that we don’t agree with? The calendar is already at full capacity, and we simply cannot delay the start of the season.
The league remains firm that its scheduling cannot be adjusted to accommodate external competitions.
Understanding the New Club World Cup Format
Chairman Thlopie Motsepe unveils the FIFA Club World Cup trophy. 👆🇿🇦#FIFACWC | @Masandawana pic.twitter.com/lxGpbf5S2a
— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) February 6, 2025
The Club World Cup 2025 will be the first of its kind, expanding from a yearly event to a 32-team tournament held every four years.
- Tournament duration: June 15 – July 13, 2025
- Format:
- Eight groups of four teams
- Top two from each group advance
- Knockout rounds: Round of 16 → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Final
- No third-place play-off
The change means that, instead of just continental champions competing, more elite European clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester City, will now participate.
What This Means for Players and Managers
Despite concerns about player workload, former City legend Sergio Agüero downplayed the issue, insisting that top players will embrace the challenge.
However, Pep Guardiola has expressed concerns over FIFA’s rule requiring clubs to bring their strongest available squad, which may limit squad rotation.
As fixture congestion intensifies, squad depth and rotation strategies will be key for teams competing on multiple fronts.
With the Premier League, Champions League, domestic cup competitions, and now the expanded Club World Cup, clubs will need to manage fatigue carefully to avoid burnout and injuries.
Final Thoughts
While the Club World Cup’s expansion brings excitement and global prestige, it also poses serious scheduling challenges for top European clubs.
With no fixture relief from the Premier League, Manchester City and Chelsea will have to navigate a relentless 2025 football calendar.
Whether Guardiola and his squad can handle the pressure remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—the football calendar has never been more demanding.