The inaugural edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup is set to begin next summer in the United States. This new tournament, scheduled just one year before the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the US, Canada, and Mexico, is taking place during Europe`s usual summer break. Consequently, it`s significantly influencing how major European clubs are planning not only for the summer period but also for the entire 2025-26 season. With hardly any gap between the conclusion of the Club World Cup and the start of pre-season preparations, teams face unique challenges. Below are the 12 European clubs participating in this event:
- Chelsea
- Manchester City
- Real Madrid
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayern Munich
- Borussia Dortmund
- Inter
- Juventus
- PSG
- Porto
- Benfica
- RB Salzburg
Early Preparations by Clubs
Among the dozen participating clubs, Real Madrid appears to be among the most forward-thinking in preparing for the summer and the forthcoming season. The Spanish giants have reportedly already secured agreements to sign Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contract expires at the end of June, and Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen. Concurrently, Real Madrid intends to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new head coach before the Club World Cup commences, as Carlo Ancelotti is due to take up a new role in Brazil from May 26th. The club`s strategy is to avoid waiting until the traditional summer period, as other teams might, and instead immediately launch the new cycle under the Spanish manager. Alonso is expected to begin integrating his approach during the tournament itself, given the reduced time available in the pre-season. This early transition is motivated by the desire to maximise preparation time and implement new ideas, especially considering some players will require rest before the 2025-26 campaign begins.
Clubs Delaying Changes
Conversely, some clubs are choosing to defer their significant summer restructuring until after the tournament concludes. Juventus is one such example. The Italian club is widely expected to change managers following Igor Tudor`s temporary appointment to see out the current season after Thiago Motta`s departure. However, uncertainty surrounds who will take charge post-Club World Cup, with increasing speculation about the potential return of current Napoli manager Antonio Conte in July. If Conte, a former captain and manager for Juventus from 2011 to 2014, makes a comeback, he would likely start his work with the squad during pre-season, beginning in July, only a few days after the FIFA Club World Cup final on July 13th at MetLife Stadium.
Impact of the Schedule and Transfer Window
All clubs, including those like Real Madrid and Juventus, face considerable impact from the congested schedule and upcoming competitions. For instance, both PSG and Inter are scheduled to play in the Champions League final on May 31st, which is merely two weeks before the Club World Cup kicks off in the United States. Adding to the pressure, many players will be involved in national team fixtures for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers during the first week of June. This means managers will likely not have their full squads available until the week immediately preceding the Club World Cup. To address potential issues with contracts expiring mid-tournament on June 30th, most leagues are implementing an early summer transfer window during the first ten days of June.
This early window allows players like Alexander-Arnold, whose contract with Liverpool ends on June 30th, to complete their transfers a month earlier. This enables them to potentially participate in the FIFA Club World Cup with their new teams. Clearly, this situation presents a novel challenge for the majority of clubs. The full consequences for the 2025-26 season remain uncertain, particularly regarding how teams will manage player recovery and readiness ahead of a season that will run until the 2026 World Cup.
