2025 Club World Cup: What Do Brits Have to Look Forward to?
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The 2025 FIFA World Cup is finally here. While the revamped tournament has garnered plenty of attention across the planet, especially in South America and mainland Europe, Britain has its own sporting spectacles, and as such, remains somewhat indifferent. Whether that is because the competition will be only available on the streaming platform DAZN rather than broadcasting traditional powerhouses, and hasn’t received the type of promotion that usual tournaments receive, is up for debate.
One thing that isn’t questionable, however, is that there are certainly plenty of Brits to enjoy at the Club World Cup this summer, whether they’re looking forward to the action or not.
Can a New-Look Manchester City Rescue Their Season?
There are two Premier League teams competing at the Club World Cup this summer, and the first of them is Manchester City. Online gambling sites feel like Pep Guardiola’s Blues have a very real chance to leave MetLife Stadium on July 13th with the title, with numerous outlets listing them as one of the tournament frontrunners. The popular Bovada online gambling site currently has them listed as the 11/2 third favorites, solely behind 4/1 favorites Real Madrid and newly minted European champions Paris Saint-Germain, who are priced at 9/2.
Despite the recent English top-flight campaign ending barely a month ago, City will have a far different look this summer than they did in the latter weeks of the Premier League. Firstly, their iconic talisman, Kevin De Bruyne, has left the club following the expiry of his contract.
The Belgian ace spent a decade at the Etihad, winning everything there was to win and becoming the Blues’ greatest-ever player in the process. Even so, City didn’t offer KDB a new deal, and he has since departed for Italian champions Napoli, allowing new faces to come in and attempt to fill the void.
A Kevin De Bruyne BULLET to tie the game! #ChampionsLeague
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) May 9, 2023
City made three huge signings in January as they brought Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, and Abdukodir Khusanov to the club in a bid to secure Champions League qualification. Guardiola’s side was ultimately successful in that quest, and now they have made three further signings specifically in the hopes of bringing the Club World Cup trophy back to Manchester.
Rayan Aït-Nouri has arrived from fellow Premier League side Wolves, while Tijjani Reijnders joins from AC Milan. But perhaps the most exciting signing is that of Rayan Cherki from Lyon. The talented French winger has been in scintillating form over in Ligue 1, and the Blues faithful will be hoping that form immediately translates into Club World Cup glory.
Another huge positive for the Blues is the return of Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri. The Spaniard was crocked with a season-ending ACL injury last October, but he has returned to fitness ahead of the Club World Cup, and he is expected to play a major role in any success Guardiola’s side may have.
Chelsea Look to Build on Conference League Triumph
Britain’s second and final participant at this summer’s tournament is Chelsea, whose Champions League victory over the aforementioned City back in 2021 was enough to punch their ticket to the States this summer. Their participation is somewhat strange considering that just one player of the entire 23-man squad that emerged victorious that glorious night in Porto remains with the club. But even so, they will head Stateside, and they will do so looking to mount a deep tournament run.
Enzo Maresca’s men are certainly bang in form. They have just secured a return to the UEFA Champions League after winning five of their final six domestic games, before coming from behind to beat Real Betis and win the UEFA Conference League final as well.
Cole Palmer is without question the star of the show. He delivered a man-of-the-match display in that victory in Wroclaw, and he will be gunning to showcase his very best on the global stage. With support from the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Nicholas Jackson, the West London outfit will feel that they have an outside shot at victory.
Jude Bellingham Leads the Foreign-Based Contingent
While Manchester City and Chelsea are the ones flying the Union Jack in the United States on a team level, there are plenty of British players who are based overseas who will also be making the trip. England international midfielder Jude Bellingham leads the way. He has just completed a somewhat underwhelming second season with Real Madrid, but now armed with Three Lions teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, the former Borussia Dortmund man certainly has a big summer ahead of him.
Real aren’t the only Madrid-based team that will feature, with their cross-city rivals Atletico also set to compete. They will have midfielder Conor Gallagher in their lineup, and he too will be looking to impress.
In fact, Jude isn’t even the only Bellingham heading to the States, as his younger brother Jobe will feature after completing a move to Borussia Dortmund from newly promoted Sunderland. He will link up with fellow Englishmen Jamie Gittens and Carney Chukwuemeka.
Other British players involved come in the form of ex-Rangers winger Ryan Kent, who now features for Seattle Sounders. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s English duo of Harry Kane and Eric Dier will be on center stage, and they harbor genuine ambitions of winning the tournament.