Manchester City star Phil Foden has sent a defiant message to the club’s rivals ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, signaling his intent to rediscover his best form and help City become the first-ever winners of the revamped 32-team tournament. The 24-year-old midfielder, who has endured a challenging 2024/25 season, is determined to use the competition, set to begin on June 18, 2025, in the United States, as a platform to reignite his career and lead Manchester City to global glory.
Foden, last season’s Premier League Player of the Year, has struggled with form and fitness this term, managing just nine goal contributions in the Premier League and battling a lingering ankle injury sustained in a draw against Manchester United in April. His market value has dropped by €30 million to €100 million, reflecting a dip in performance that saw him relegated to the bench for much of the season. Off-field mental fatigue and personal challenges, including family commitments with his three young children, have also taken a toll, as Foden candidly admitted to the media.
Despite these setbacks, Foden remains optimistic about the Club World Cup, where City will face Moroccan side Wydad AC in their opening match in Philadelphia. “The lads have been talking about the chance to be the first to win [the Club World Cup]. It would be nice,” Foden said, as reported by journalist Ben Jacobs. “The goal is to win it, but my personal aim is to get back to my best and compete against the world’s top players”. His comments echo a determination to silence critics and prove his worth on a global stage, a sentiment shared by City manager Pep Guardiola, who confirmed Foden’s inclusion in the squad despite his need for rest.
Guardiola, a staunch supporter of the academy graduate, expressed confidence in Foden’s ability to bounce back. “Phil’s a baby boy from the academy, one of our stars, and we want to help him,” Guardiola said. “He’ll come to America [for the Club World Cup], and we’ll see him return to his best”. The tournament, running from June 14 to July 13, offers Foden a fresh start after a season where Manchester City failed to compete for major honors, finishing outside the Premier League’s top spots and exiting the FA Cup at the hands of Crystal Palace.
Foden’s warning to rivals underscores City’s ambition to dominate the expanded Club World Cup, which features heavyweights like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. Despite his struggles, Foden’s talent remains undeniable, with a standout period earlier this year where he scored six goals and provided one assist in four matches. His exclusion from England’s recent squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Senegal, attributed to his ankle injury and mental fatigue, has given him a brief respite to prepare for the tournament.