Manchester City

What did you make of the display and what are the talking points?

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

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Pep Guardiola names new signings, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, in his Manchester City starting XI as Rayan Ait-Nouri starts on the bench.

New captain Bernardo Silva also starts on the bench, as Ederson leads the team in their opening Club World Cup game.

Man City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Reis, Ake, O'Reilly, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Savinho, Doku, Marmoush.

Subs: Ortega, Dias, Stones, Haaland, Nico, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, Ait-Nouri, Gvardiol, Akanji, Nunes, Echeverri, Khusanov, Bobb.

Wydad hand a competitive debut to veteran winger Nordin Amrabat, who joined them from Hull City last month.

Wydad XI: Benabid, Moufid, Boutouil, Moufi, Meijers, Ferreira, El Moubarik, Zemraoui, Lorch, Amrabat, Mailula.

Subs: El Motie, Aqzdaou, Harkass, Moutarajji, Malsa, Arthur, Aziz Ki, Benktib, Pedrinho, Bennani, Mahtou, Rayhi, Obeng, Fathi, Mwalimu.

Opta has ranked the difficulty of each top-flight team's first five Premier League fixtures of the 2025-26 season.

According to Opta's model, Manchester United have the hardest start, followed by their opening-weekend opponents Arsenal and then Bournemouth.

Aston Villa's first five games have been ranked the easiest, alongside Crystal Palace.

Take a look below to see where your side places...

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Fans have been warned by the Premier League that fixtures could be moved at "relatively short notice" next season because of the number of teams playing in Europe.

A record nine top-flight clubs have qualified for continental competition in the 2025-26 campaign.

The Premier League said there is an "increased likelihood" that games will be re-scheduled if English teams reach the latter stages and it suggested fans take this into consideration when planning their attendance at games.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham will be playing in the Champions League next season.

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have qualified for the Europa League, while Nottingham Forest will be playing in the Conference League.

"While the Premier League celebrates this success, it will come with an impact on the scheduling of league matches," a statement from the Premier League said.

"There is an increased likelihood of Premier League fixtures moving at relatively short notice, after our fixture announcements, should our clubs progress to the knockout rounds of these competitions."

Aside from the first game of the season at Wolves and the final fixture of the season against Aston Villa, all dates are subject to change as a result of broadcast and other requirements.

See Man City's full fixture list here

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The first Manchester derby of the 2025-26 Premier League season is scheduled to take place at the Etihad on the weekend of 13-14 September.

Pep Guardiola's side will then travel to Manchester United on the weekend of 17-18 January 2026.

In terms of the title race, City will first travel to Arsenal on the weekend of 20-21 September, before hosting defending champions Liverpool in early November. The return games are scheduled for the weekends of 18-19 April and 7-3 February respectively.

And what about the schedule over Christmas and New Year? Well, City are due to face West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, before hosting Chelsea in their first game of 2026.

Finally, the Blues will close their campaign against Aston Villa at home on Sunday, 24 May 2026 - when all 10 matches will kick off at 16:00 BST.

Looking at the fixture list, where do you think Guardiola's side will be after 10 games? Have your say here

Manchester City will travel to Wolves in their opening game of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

The match will take place on Saturday, 16 August at 17:30 BST, with their first home fixture against Tottenham on the weekend of 23-24 August.

See City's Premier League fixtures in full here

Where do you think you will be after 10 games and what do you make of how the fixtures have fallen? Tell us here

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Bernardo Silva has confirmed he will stay at Manchester City this season, after being named captain by Pep Guardiola.

Silva is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad and had been linked with a move away from the club.

Speaking before City's Club World Cup opener against Wydad AC, he said: "I've had options in the past and this year but, like last year, this year my option is to stay at Manchester City.

"I know what I'm going to do but it's not the time to talk about that. I'm very focused on my season and performing well for City. When the time is due, I will talk about it."

City needed a new skipper after the departure of Kevin de Bruyne this summer.

The Portugal international is now entering his ninth season at the Etihad and after accepting the captain's armband, it is clear his focus is on helping the squad to improve.

"We talked a lot last season, as a group, about what happened and we learned a lot of very important lessons," he added.

"Hopefully we're never going to forget them, especially this season. We're not going to forget what happened last season and try to make things right."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has spoken to the media before Wednesday's Club World Cup game against Wydad AC (kick-off 17:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On future of Jack Grealish: "I don't know if his future will be in Manchester. We'll be away now, and we'll see what happens. For now, he's a Manchester City player - and if he has to come back, he will."

• The City boss added: "Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason he didn't play last season was, of course, my decisions. Now, we've decided he needs to play. The club was honest, and he was honest."

• When asked about the Club World Cup as a whole, Guardiola said: "It is an incredible opportunity to understand we come here all together, to show who we are in the best way, playing the sport we love."

• On Bernardo Silva being appointed as the club's new captain: "Bernardo has been an incredible figure for us. Eight years here, no injures and always in the bad moments he makes a step up and sets the example [to the rest of the team] on the pitch."

• Guardiola previously let the squad vote on who should lead the dressing room, but admitted he "didn't like what happened last season and decided this season who represents the team". He added: "Sometimes I want to be the boss."

• On opponents Wydad AC: "Football has grown up a lot all around the world. All these teams have individual quality. We have huge, huge respect. We saw what we could see of them. We have a gameplan and we are here to make a good tournament."

Hear more from Guardiola on BBC Sounds

Follow all of Wednesday's football news as the Premier League fixtures are released on our live page

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter in Philadelphia

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City begin their Club World Cup campaign against Wydad AC on Wednesday - a match that will "ignite the passion" of the whole of Morocco.

Wydad come in as champions of the north African nation and a number of supporters have travelled over from Casablanca.

They were seen singing and dancing in downtown Philadelphia in the lead-up to the game.

"We are here not only as Wydad Athletic Club, but as representatives of a nation that has made history in world football," chairman Hicham Ait Menna told BBC Sport.

"Morocco's supporters amazed the world during the 2022 World Cup and we hope to carry that same spirit here.

"We know that if we achieve a strong performance or a positive result, it will ignite the passion of the entire country behind us for the rest of the tournament.

"We are playing for a flag, for a nation, for millions of hearts."

City go into the contest as heavy favourites and Ait Menna added: "Let's be clear, if Manchester City wins, it will be considered a normal result.

"But if Wydad wins, it will be a historic moment. We believe that in this game, only Wydad has the opportunity to create an upset.

"Our expectations are clear - to give everything on the pitch, to honour the badge and to show that African clubs can stand with the best."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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If you are working on the Club World Cup - this reborn competition - as a journalist or influencer, you have to sound hyper excited, but I feel browbeaten into showing some love for Infantino's 'beautiful' baby, otherwise I am portrayed as an unfeeling Grinch.

I will give it a chance before I decide, while doing my very best to ignore all the tiresome fake razzamatazz surrounding the games. It is clearly a bunch of steps too far for exhausted players but if the tournament takes off and delivers some great football that feels meaningful, I'll be here to give it every praise.

Maybe a 0-0 opener wasn't exactly what Fifa and its cheerleaders wanted, neither was the 10-0 embarrassment between Bayern and Auckland, but is a 63 game tournament over 29 days.

Let's wait and see.

The most concerning thing for Fifa must be the feeble ticket sales particularly at the inflated prices initially advertised for some early games. Empty stadiums are not a good look, even if you move the fans and instruct the TV cameras to veer away from the empty spaces. With streaming free in the UK and other regions, there have been staggering sums spent on this tournament. If it doesn't work and the sums do not add up, this loss leader for Fifa could yet become one of the biggest financial white elephants in sporting history.

If it does work, then this is the future of football and could in time grow to be bigger than the Champions League or the World Cup. This is certainly Fifa's vision and it is why the staggering sums have been spent here in the first place.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter in Philadelphia

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Arrived in Philadelphia from Miami in the early hours of this morning and isn't it just typical - it's raining and it's gloomy.

The journalists that have travelled over from Manchester and the City team will feel right at home.

Cooler temperatures than the balmy 30C of Florida will come as a welcome to Erling Haaland and the squad, who play their tournament opener at 12pm local time on Wednesday against Wydad AC of Morocco.

Before that, we will speak to boss Pep Guardiola for the first time on this trip as he previews the game at 18:45 local time (23:45 BST).

Will Rodri get a start? Will the new signings get thrown in? And what of the futures of Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker?

We will find out when the Spaniard faces the cameras later today.

Image source, Manchester City

Some of Manchester City's first team squad brought smiles to faces before jetting of to the USA for the Club World Cup.

City's stars met with fans as part of the club's 'Love this City' initiative which seeks to thank and support supporters in the local community.

Rodri and Ederson surprised members of the Official Supporters Club, while John Stones and Rico Lewis visited local community hero, Allan Grafton.

Last year, City fan Alex left school due to bullying and so the club organised a darts game for him and fellow Stockport local Phil Foden, with Nico O'Reilly, Savinho and Vitor Reis joining in.

Speaking after the visit, Alex said: "Everyone was really nice about it. After all that's happened with me, I think it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I just want to thank everyone at the club for making this all happen."

Image source, Getty Images

Over on our live page our chief football writer Phil McNulty has been taking your questions.

Dave, Lincoln: Hi Phil, is Manchester City's appointment of Pep Lijnders (and another former-Liverpool analyst in James French) a signal that Pep Guardiola is looking to move away from his signature style and towards the heavy metal style of Jurgen Klopp?

Phil McNulty said: Hello, Dave. The arrival of Lijnders is certainly an interesting move, given how closely linked he was with Jurgen Klopp's successes at Liverpool.

He called his book 'Intensity' and this is certainly something Manchester City lacked last season, so maybe we can expect more of that this term.

Guardiola has always been open to introducing new ideas and voices into his backroom team so this is another one of those occasions.

He will stick to his successful strategy of possession, but maybe he does feel his team need to hear a new voice and play with more of the intensity that Lijnders sets so much store by.

Read more of the Q&A here

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter in Philadelphia

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Transfers is the subject of the final part of Tuesday's run-through of questions you put to Shamoon Hafez, our football news reporter covering Manchester City at the Club World Cup.

David asked: Pep Guardiola was saying he wanted a smaller squad, so after the signings that have been made, who is going to leave apart from Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker?

Shamoon: You're right to say Guardiola wants a smaller squad and you can add Kalvin Phillips to Grealish and Walker in players City will look to move on this summer.

We then go on to the likes of John Stones and Nathan Ake, who have struggled with injuries and may be sold because of availability issues.

Goalkeeper Ederson is entering the final year of his contract and was heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, so could a Pro League side come in again with a big offer? City have been linked with Porto's Diogo Costa as a replacement.

Sources have told me transfer incomings are unlikely during the Club World Cup, but do not rule them out during the remainder of the summer window - and keep an eye on the right-back situation.

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As the transfer window is now open again until 1 September, we asked you to tell us one player you want to bring to Manchester City and one player you want the club to sell.

Here are some of your comments:

Rhiannon: The player I would sell is Ederson because he is past his best and wants to play in Saudi Arabia. The player I would sign is Diogo Costa as he is an exceptional goalkeeper and would fit in Pep Guardiola's system.

Jeff: The player to go is, sadly, Jack Grealish - for his sake more than anything. He has been played out of position since he arrived, and has not been able to show off his skills. Pep doesn't seem to trust him, or he can't do what Pep wants from him. He is worth a bit of dosh, so will help balance the books. To come in, I think Andrea Cambiaso from Juventus would be good.

Eva: Sell Stefan Ortega and bring in James Trafford please.

Tadhg: We should sell Grealish because he is not good enough for us, and we should pay the extreme price of Lamine Yamal. He would fit into our squad perfectly.

Jon: Kyle Walker has been a great servant but is just too old now so I would sell him and look at Tino Livramento.

Lewis: Sell Grealish and sign Randal Kolo Muani.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter in Philadephia

Image source, Getty Images

Through Tuesday, and before Manchester City's opening Club World Cup match on Wednesday, we are putting your questions to our football news reporter Shamoon Hafez.

Here are some of his answers on how strong Pep Guardiola might go in the tournament:

Mark asked: Is this a watered down competition? I cannot imagine Pep playing a strong team, never mind a 'first 11' pick. However, it is an ideal opportunity to blood new signings and some fringe players. How many subs per match? And how many matches could we end up playing?

Shamoon: Thanks for the question, Mark, but sorry to say I am going to have to absolutely disagree with you on this one.

City have spent over £100m to bolster their squad for this competition and have left the youth team players at home. They mean serious business here in America and it will be interesting to see whether Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri will be thrown straight in on Wednesday.

If you saw the interview chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak gave at the end of the season, he made it clear City were travelling stateside to win – if that is the main man's view, boss Guardiola and his players will be under no illusions at the task in hand.

As with Premier League games, you can name up to nine substitutes and five changes can be made. A run to the final will mean City playing a total of seven matches.

Danso asked: Is Rodri likely to play in the tournament?

Shamoon: Journalists who have travelled over have been fortunate to be invited to City's training base in Boca Raton in Florida.

I was quite close up to Rodri the other day and he looks in incredible shape - his biceps were bulging out from his vest and he looked in good spirits. Some of the passes he was knocking around were a delight to see.

When I spoke to club sources a couple of months ago, the target was for him to return to action during the Club World Cup. They were always building up to that.

Instead, the Spaniard was back earlier than expected, playing in the final home game of the season against Bournemouth.

To me, Rodri looks fit and if I was picking the team on Wednesday, I would give him an hour against a Wydad AC side City are heavy favourites to beat.

Check back later for the final part of the Q&A.

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A group of Manchester City fans believe a new season ticket policy is in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

New rules are being introduced about how many games season ticket-holders must attend in person, but Trade Union Blues are arguing they negatively affect people who have caring duties, disabilities or who do shift work.

Last season, City season ticket-holders had to ensure their ticket was used for 14 out of 19 games. This will increase to 16 out of 19 for the upcoming season.

Previously, if fans were unable to attend, they could pass their ticket to a friend or list their seat on the Manchester City website. The change means supporters must attend a minimum of 10 games and this is controlled by a mobile ticket which cannot be transferred to anyone other than the season ticket-holder.

Chris Neville, from Trade Union Blues, told BBC Radio Manchester: "There are a lot of people who will be affected by this. Newly pregnant women, or women who have just given birth, is just one example of people who will struggle to abide by these rules. We have instructed lawyers to send a legal letter to the club outlining why we believe it is a breach of the Equality Act 2010.

"We are not aware of any other clubs who impose these restrictions. Others may have a minimum usage policy, but not a minimum attendance policy which means you have to attend the game yourself.

"We are asking them to consult with us and to consider scrapping this policy."

Manchester City released a statement on the issue: "We understand some supporters may find it difficult to attend 10 matches in person.

"We encourage everyone to see how things go for the first few months of the next season, but if you find yourself missing matches or facing challenging circumstances, the access team are on hand to help.

"They will work with you to try to come up with adjustments. You can also apply an exemption where necessary."

On Friday, Manchester City also announced a significant reduction in ticket prices with some decreasing by as much as 43%.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter in Philadelphia

Image source, Getty Images

Before Manchester City's first match at the Club World Cup against Wydad AC on Wednesday, we put your questions to Shamoon Hafez, our football news reporter covering the Blues out in the United States.

Here are some of his answers on how the competition could benefit City:

Jack asked: What is the financial reward for not only competing, but winning or placing highly in the Club World Cup?

Shamoon: The tournament might not be to everyone's liking but there is some big bucks - as they say over here - to be taken home, especially by the European clubs.

Negotiations with Fifa means your likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid and co will earn more than counterparts from other continents.

There is a mammoth £775m prize pot split between the 32 teams, with the tournament winner earning up to £97m, so a place in the competition is not to be sniffed at, even if it is supposedly causing issues in the fixture calendar. Fifa sources dismissed such suggestion when I put it to them on Friday.

Jamal asked: What are City's chances of winning the Club World Cup?

Shamoon: Despite City's issues last season when they failed to win a trophy, I would put them as one of the favourites to win the tournament - purely because they are close to a full bill of health. Rodri is back from his serious knee injury and Erling Haaland will be fresh after a spell out last term.

However, City need to come top of their group to increase their chances of avoiding an early exit - and their placing in Group G is likely to come down to that third game against Juventus.

A first-place finish will probably mean facing either Al Hilal or Red Bull Salzburg in the last 16. If they are runners-up, it would probably be a tough task against Real Madrid in the last 16 and a possible an early trip back home.

Real, though, will be in the mix in the latter stages and I expect Bayern Munich - after their 10-0 demolition of Auckland City - and Champions League winners Paris St-Germain to go far too.

Check back at 12:00 for the next part of the Q&A.