FIFA's official documents for the 2025 Club World Cup state that clubs are not obligated to release players to national teams during the tournament, raising concerns for teams in North America. This could have significant ramifications for the on-field preparations leading up to the 2026 World Cup, especially as the Gold Cup will serve as the final competition for Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. prior to hosting the World Cup, making player availability crucial for their training and strategy.
The regulations highlight that while there is an international window from June 2-10 where clubs must release players, this falls before the Club World Cup and Gold Cup, which begin on June 14. As such, there is a potential mismatch where some players may not be able to participate in the Gold Cup if their clubs choose to retain them, which could alter the competitive landscape and impact player performance and cohesion ahead of the World Cup.
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