Sport
Chelsea Manager: No Plans Yet for FIFA Club World Cup
Enzo Maresca admitted that Chelsea has not yet finalized its plans for the upcoming season, as the team will also compete in the FIFA Club World Cup next summer. According to The Athletic, Chelsea will participate in the expanded 32-team tournament in the United States, scheduled to run from June 15 to July 13. Chelsea is drawn in a group with Flamengo, Lyon, and Tunisian club Esperance and is expected to be a strong contender for the later stages.
This competition will add extra pressure on the team this season, leaving limited time to prepare for the 2025–26 campaign. Since Todd Boehly-Clearlake’s ownership in 2022, Chelsea has conducted pre-season tours in the U.S. every summer.
When asked about pre-season plans, Maresca said:
> “No, definitely not. Last season, we started pre-season on July 8. If we play the final, we’ll certainly need some rest. There are many matches, which is challenging. We’ll decide in May or June how to prepare for the tournament. I know the group, but I don’t know who will start or who will play. I have no idea right now. In May, I’ll start making those decisions, but at the moment, I only know the group.”
The Premier League season for 2024–25 will kick off on August 16, typically leaving players with three weeks of vacation during the off-season. Should Chelsea reach the Club World Cup final on July 13, they will have minimal time to focus on pre-season and recovery.
