THOMAS TUCHEL could be plunged into a club versus country row after Fifa ordered Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to play their strongest teams in the new Club World Cup.
New England boss Tuchel will discover next month if he will have to start the Three Lions World Cup campaign in June.
But Fifa’s demand that the 32 competing teams field their strongest slides for the £600m new tournament which starts in the USA less than a week after the scheduled international dates may leave Tuchel in the middle of a major dilemma.
Skipper Harry Kane will spearhead Munich’s glory push in the States, with Jude Bellingham central to Real Madrid’s chances and Conor Gallagher scheduled to appear for Atletico Madrid.
Tuchel will also see Cole Palmer, Reece James and Levi Colwill required by Chelsea, with Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis in City’s ranks.
Fifa’s desperate determination to make the inaugural episode of the tournament a major success has now seen world chiefs giving themselves the power to order clubs to release players to Club World Cup sides BEFORE their current contracts end.
World chiefs have now released regulations that state clubs must field their “strongest teams throughout the tournament”.
Fifa said that competing clubs must still release their players for the international window including World Cup qualifiers from June 2 to June 9.
But the prospect of top clubs pulling rank and demanding their needs are put ahead of international commitments in the immediate lead-up to the tournament – due to start on June 15 – tees up a serious worry for German Tuchel.
That Fifa window will leave little time for the players involved to get back into club groove before the new tournament.
THOMAS TUCHEL
Augsburg II 2007-2008
P34 W 20 D8 L6 Win percentage: 58.82%
Mainz 05 2009-2014
P184 W72 D46 L66 Win percentage: 39.13%
Borussia Dortmund 2015-2017
P107 W67 D23 L17 Win percentage: 62.62%
Honours: DFB Pokal
Paris Saint Germain 2018-2020
P127 W95 D13 L16 Win percentage: 74.8%
Honours: Ligue 1 X2, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophee des Champions x2
Chelsea 2021-2022
P100 W60 D24 L16 Win percentage: 60%
Honours: Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup
Bayern Munich 2023-2024
P61 W37 D8 L16 Win percentage: 60.66%
Honours: Bundesliga
GARETH SOUTHGATE
Middlesbrough 2006-2009
P151 W54 D43 Win percentage: 35.76%
England U21 2013-2016
P37 W27 D5 L5 Win percentage: 72.97%
Honours: Toulon tournament
England 2016-2024
P102 W61 D24 L17 Win percentage: 59.8%
Honours: Euros runners up, 2020, 2024
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The possible problems come after the international players’ union Fifpro launched a legal challenge against Fifa in the European Court, with the aim of forcing Zurich chiefs to back down on their plan.
But Fifa put the screws on the clubs by announcing that any team which pulls out now will be fined “at least” £220,000, while withdrawals after mid-May would see that fine doubled to nearly £450,000.
The hardline expectations came as it emerged FIFA chiefs could order clubs to release players due to join Club World Cup sides early.
Fifa announced last month that they were creating a special transfer loophole to apply at the tournament that will be played in the USA.
Competing clubs will be able to complete some of next term’s transfers early to allow the players to take part in Fifa’s new flagship competition.
Under the special regulations, clubs will be able to register new players between June 1 and June 10 – rather than being forced to stick to the usual June 30 cut-off for registration changes.
Current contracts for City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan will expire on June 30, while Jadon Sancho’s loan spell at Chelsea.
Canada left-back Alphonso Davies is one of SEVEN senior players at Kane’s Bayern Munich who are out of contract at the end of the season.
Initially it had been suggested that early registration would only be permitted if both clubs and the players involved approve, with nobody will be allowed to play for two teams during the month of action.
Fifa said the “objective” was to “encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the players’ participation”.
But it has now emerged that FIFA will decide on any disputes between Club World Cup teams who each want to take the same player to the tournament.
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