FIFA announced the new tournament regulations, which received strong criticism and complaint from European leagues and unions.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place for the first time from June 15 to July 13 in the United States with 32 teams, will allow clubs to include up to 35 players in their final squad and register up to two new recruits during the tournament.
In the inaugural edition of this innovative event, participating clubs can refuse to release players for national team duty during the competition, under an exception to the usual FIFA rules.
Additionally, teams can include up to 35 players in their final squad, with 26 available for each match day. From June 27 to July 3, clubs will be able to replace players whose contracts have expired and add up to two new summer signings to their 35-man roster. A maximum of six substitutions can be made during this period.
Tournament rules also require players to comply with media and marketing campaigns by participating in designated events. The regulations prohibit the display of political, religious or personal messages or slogans of any nature, in any language or format, by players and coaches.
Leagues have already expressed concern about the impact of the tournament on their own events, mainly due to the only three weeks they will have before starting pre-season ahead of the 2025-26 campaign which begins next August.
Leagues’ concerns have intensified now that Club World Cup regulations have confirmed that, as part of participation agreements, clubs must field their best teams “throughout the tournament”.
Last month, manager Pep Guardiola said his club had asked to postpone domestic matches until the start of next season to allow their return from the Club World Cup, but the Premier League had refused.
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