Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has stated that the club is determined to secure victory in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup as they commence their first training session in Fort Lauderdale.
In an interview with FIFA ahead of the tournament, the 25-year-old expressed that it is “clearly” their ambition to be the first team to lift the trophy.
City finds themselves in a relatively manageable Group G, kicking off their campaign on June 18th against Wydad AC from Morocco, followed by matches against UAE’s Al Ain and Italy’s Juventus.
However, they could potentially come up against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich or the 15-time Champions League victors Real Madrid in the knockout stage.
Phil Foden speaks with FIFA in anticipation of the Club World Cup
Courtesy of FIFA 2025
“Chatting with a few of the lads, we’ve mentioned it – being the first to lift the trophy would be brilliant,” Foden remarked.
“That’s certainly the goal, and with the calibre of players we have in our squad, I’m confident we can achieve it.”
“Personally, my aim is to relish the experience, compete against the finest players, and strive to give my best performance. That’s my approach.”
City enjoys a substantial fan base in the United States, and Foden is eager to showcase their skills to supporters, many of whom may be witnessing them live for the first time.
“Making the trip over to see us play can be a real challenge, so I know they’ll be excited to see us in action.”
“They’ll have the chance to watch us compete in a match, so I’m genuinely pleased for them, and we hope to deliver a strong performance and secure a win.”
City arrives in the US following a disappointing campaign in which they didn’t claim any silverware for the first time since the 2016/17 season.
They finished third in the Premier League, were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since the 2012/13 season, and suffered defeat in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.
Nonetheless, Foden insists fans should not count them out, particularly with star striker Erling Haaland in their ranks and defender Nico O’Reilly’s notable improvement.
“On the pitch, everyone knows how phenomenal he is. He’s absolutely extraordinary. When Erling is on the field, you sort of expect him to score every match – that’s how remarkable he is,” he explained.
“He doesn’t even need to be heavily involved in the play – he just has this instinct that if he gets one chance, he’ll convert it, which highlights his excellent mentality. The tally of goals he’s amassed at such a young age is astonishing.”
“(Nico is) a very modest individual; he never gets ahead of himself. He’s someone I admire during training, as it’s great to see his desire to learn and grow. He also observes the older players, noting their professionalism and picking up tips from them.”
“You know that managers only select players who have earned their spot, and he has undoubtedly earned his chance. He’s put in a tremendous amount of effort, and he has a fantastic physical presence on the pitch.”
“He’s a top player,” he concluded.
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