Sterling, Grealish left out as Chelsea, Man City announce Club World Cup squads

As excitement builds for the inaugural edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, Chelsea and Manchester City have confirmed their squads—but notable names are missing from both line-ups.

Chelsea have opted to exclude Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, and Ben Chilwell from their tournament squad. The decision raised eyebrows among fans, especially with Sterling and Chilwell being regulars in recent seasons.

Meanwhile, Manchester City have also left out Jack Grealish from their 27-man squad. The 29-year-old England international’s omission comes as little surprise, given his limited appearances in the Premier League this season—starting just seven matches in the 2024–25 campaign.

Former City captain Kyle Walker is also absent from the roster, having spent the latter part of the season on loan at AC Milan.

The 2025 Club World Cup, which marks the first edition of FIFA’s expanded format, is set to kick off in the United States on Saturday, June 14. The revamped tournament will feature 32 teams from around the globe, bringing together champions from various confederations in a month-long spectacle.