FIFA Mandates Full-Strength Squads for 2025 Club World Cup Amidst Packed Schedule
Clubs Required to Bring Top Players for Expanded 32-Team Tournament in U.S.
FIFA has unveiled new regulations for the upcoming 2025 Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States, including a rule mandating that clubs bring their strongest available squads. Any club failing to comply faces serious sanctions, signaling FIFA’s commitment to ensuring high-level competition in the 32-team, 63-game tournament scheduled to kick off on June 15.
According to FIFA’s regulations, all players are expected to report for duty 3-5 days before their first match, despite the international window concluding on June 10. This will allow minimal recovery time following an intense 2024-25 season. Additionally, FIFA’s guidelines could impact other summer competitions, as clubs are not obligated to release players for tournaments like the Gold Cup, potentially affecting national teams like the USMNT.
The decision to enforce full-strength lineups follows months of debate surrounding the tournament’s format, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino pushing for its global scale. While Infantino announced the venues at the Global Citizen Festival in September, the final’s location has yet to be determined.
