FIFA questioned by Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola over new Club World Cup regulations

Pep Guardiola has hit back at FIFA over new regulations that insist clubs competing at the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States must bring their ‘strongest’ squads.

A report issued by Sky Sports earlier this week provided an overview of regulations formulated by FIFA ahead of their revamped competition in the new year, stating that teams in at the Club World Cup will have to bring their strongest squads and field their strongest teams.

It is explained that new FIFA regulations mean that participating organisations will not be able to allow any players to sit out the tournament, despite the competition coming after another long club schedule in domestic leagues and competitions.

This week, the new regulations were put to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City at the very first opportunity, with his side qualifying for the competition via the 2023 UEFA Champions League victory ahead of Inter in Istanbul.

Speaking during a press conference ahead of the visit of Fulham to the Etihad Stadium this weekend, Guardiola hit back at FIFA over new regulations that insist on clubs bringing their ‘strongest’ squads to the Club World Cup in the United States.

“What is the strongest players? Which ones? FIFA will tell me for THEM which players are stronger than the other ones? I don’t understand that,” Guardiola responded.

“We will go all the squad there,” he continued, referring to Manchester City’s plans for the Club World Cup next year. “We don’t go for one game, right? So I don’t know who is the competition itself right now, but we’re not going with 11 players, we’re going with the whole squad.

“I don’t understand how the selection of players is ‘stronger’ than other ones? I know! Stronger means in-form, and maybe the strongest for them is in really, really, really bad conditions! For many reasons; personal, physical, injuries, niggles, and we’re going to play other ones.

“I’m not going to be told before the games which players are going to play, I will decide, for sure!”

Manchester City’s meeting with Fulham will be their final game before the second international break of the ongoing season, as their players jet off to compete in the UEFA Nations League group stages as well as FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

One player who will not be present in both October and November’s international breaks is Kevin De Bruyne, who has indicated to the Belgium camp that he will not represent his country as a result of a lack of match fitness and ongoing recovery from injury.

The 33-year-old is currently sidelined away from Pep Guardiola’s squad alongside Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb, and defensive midfield star, Rodri.