Pep: FIFA Club World Cup offers us all an exciting new challenge | OneFootball

City boss Pep Guardiola says he can’t wait for this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup – and the chance to both experience and come up against different football cultures from all around the globe.

The immediate focus is, of course, on achieving a strong finish to the domestic season with City through to a third straight FA Cup final and targeting a top-five Premier League finish and with a place in next season’s Champions League.

But with less than 50 days to go now before the inaugural edition of the expanded 2025 Club World Cup kicks-off in the United States, Guardiola says there is already a heightened sense of anticipation and excitement about the competition.

With the best sides from all continents assembling across various location throughout the States, it’s set to be a spectacular and memorable showcase of the very best of the beautiful game.

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City’s tournament will begin with keenly-anticipated group stage matches against Moroccan club Wydad AC, UAE-based Al Ain and Italians Juventus.

And from the manager’s perspective the opportunity to view and experience first-hand varied football philosophies and cultures serves as the very essence of what football can bring to the world.

“We will see how we finish the season and see how we arrive in that tournament together and then we will see what happens,” Pep said as he looked ahead to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

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“Normally whenever I start a competition for example like the Premier League, never do I start thinking ‘Oh, we are going to win etc.’

“So, one step at a time, try to play better than we played in the league, arrive in better conditions everyone and after we see.

“What’s happening today in football, even in domestic leagues, there are different managers, different cultures, different styles and ways to play and of course you play teams from Oceania, Asia, South America…

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“It’s a new one and that’s why its football, right?

“It’s not always the same style, it’s different visions, different types of players, that’s culture so that’s nice.”

By way of further amplifying the value and importance of immersing yourself to new thoughts and ideas, Pep also pointed to his own example in the way that playing under the legendary Johan Cruyff had helped revolutionise his own ideas about football.

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

Guardiola was an integral player in the legendary Barcelona side of the 1990s managed by Dutch visionary Cruyff – and the boss said his impact and influence on him was incalculable.

“My influence from previous managers helped open my mind – especially my mentor Johan Cruyff opened my mind with the vision of how to play and my curiosity,” Guardiola added.

“So, I’m pretty sure without the influence of Johan Cruyff in my career as a football player it would be difficulty to maybe become a manager.”

City are no strangers to playing in the United States having visited the country for our 2024 pre-season tour.Our three group stage fixtures in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will see us play in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Orlando.

And for Guardiola, the chance for City to again engage with and further grow the Club’s burgeoning worldwide fanbase whilst in America is one that fills him with an enormous sense of pride.

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“Of course, we grew up the supporter fan base a lot in the last decade and it [makes us] really proud because maybe people enjoy in the past watching us play,” Pep pointed out.

“We went on pre-seasons in America and Asia and you see a lot of blue shirts in the stands, at the hotels and asking for autographs and pictures with our players.

“We cannot deny it makes us so proud.”

WATCH: WATCH: See who City drew in Group G of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025

How to follow the FIFA Club World Cup 2025

DAZN will broadcast every minute from the event, with all 63 matches, live-streamed, free to view on DAZN globally, and in multiple languages.

If you are already a DAZN subscriber or Freemium member, then the competition is part of your current membership.

To sign up for a free DAZN account now you only need an email address to register, with no hidden costs or fees.

You can then watch all the action on the DAZN App via smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, streaming devices, game consoles and web browsers.

Join now to be ready to watch DAZN’s coverage for free.

Every City match will be covered in full across mancity.com and our official app, with our usual offering of a Matchday Centre and Matchday Live followed by a match report, written and video reaction and highlights from the US.