FIFA Club World Cup: Five talking points ahead of the tournament | OneFootball

City are in the US for the start of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and there's plenty to look forward to.

Pep Guardiola’s side are one of 32 teams stateside with the aim of glory at next month’s final at the MetLife Stadum.

First up, we’ll face Wydad AC, Al Ain and Juventus in Group G and only the top two will progress.

WATCH THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 ON DAZN

From there, it’s all about individual knockout ties from the Round of 16 through to the showpiece in New York.

Every match at the competition is free and live on DAZN. All you need to do is sign up for an account!

Ahead of our opener against Wydad on 18 June, we look at some of the key talking points over the next few weeks.

Silverware searchers

Pep Guardiola has won an astonishing 18 major honours in nine years as City boss, including six Premier League titles and three international prizes across the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and previous iteration of the Club World Cup.

However, 2024/25 hasn’t been our most glittering campaign under the Catalan – with only the Community Shield added to our cabinet.

We’ll be looking to reassert our domestic dominance and continental threat in 2025/26 and that all starts here.

WATCH: FIFA Club World Cup: Haaland shows fighting spirit in DAZN video spot

We have a squad full of proven winners, so they’ll be eager to shrug off the last few months and aim for another trophy.

Bedding in

A lengthy time away from home presents its challenges, but for new signings it's a vital window to get to know their new team-mates quickly.

Spending all day every day together builds relationships amongst the group and with four new men in our travelling squad, as well as fresh faces on the coaching side, this tournament will help everyone find their groove.

For Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders, it's the perfect chance to get a deeper understanding of what Pep will ask them to do.

WATCH: Gvardiol: We could achieve something really special at FIFA Club World Cup

This kind of work is usually done on pre-season tours, with friendlies to solidify the training ground action.

But with every game this summer a highly competitive one, there's pressure from the off!

Return of the sash

City will debut two new kits in the US!

We will wear the 2025/26 PUMA Home kit as first choice during the tournament, with the goalkeeper sporting the new pink jersey unveiled last month.

WATCH: Last night at the social club: Our 2025/26 PUMA Home kit

Our new KidSuper shirt will be the alternative option this summer, alongside the orange base goalkeeper top.

For the first time in the Club’s history, the Home kit features the famous ‘sash’ – the diagonal stripe design made iconic on previous City away days.

The fresh new iteration of the Home shirt pairs our unmistakable sky blue with a white sash, that has been reimagined for the new generation.

Our new KidSuper shirt also utilised the sash design, recalling a classic number that was worn in 2009/10 and also harks back to the days of Bell, Lee, Summerbee and more!

WATCH: The classic is back: PUMA and KidSuper launch new Manchester City special edition kit

This special edition kit will only be worn during this summer, with a fresh look to follow as out away kit for the 2025/26 domestic season.

Culture clash

City will face at least two teams we’ve never played before during the tournament.

Our group stage starts against Moroccan team Wydad, before UAE’s Al Ain follow up.

If we’re to progress through the groups, we’ll play one of Real Madrid, Salzburg, Pachuca and Al Hilal.

With clubs from all corners of the globe, there will likely be a mix of styles and tactics that we’re not used to seeing City come up against regularly.

WATCH: Highlights: City 4-0 Fluminense

That provides a very interesting challenge and plenty of novelty for the viewer.

In the stands, we’ll also see fans from Africa and South America in particular bring their own brand of passion to the occasion.

If international World Cups are anything to go by, we can expect a month-long festival across the US.

That’s an enticing prospect and a previously unseen entity in the club game!