On top of that, the looming verdict on 115 financial charges still hangs over the club.
Yet in areas they can control, Guardiola and the club’s top brass have not held back in spending during this early part of the summer window.
Tijjani Reijnders is seen as someone who can bring back some of the creative spark that Kevin De Bruyne usually provides.
On the pitch, City technically enter the Club World Cup as defending champions, having won the 2023 edition comfortably before FIFA launched the Intercontinental Cup as a temporary replacement in 2024.
While City do have a Club World Cup trophy in their cabinet, opponents Wydad AC actually bring slightly more experience in the competition.
This 2025 edition marks their third appearance at the global event.
The Moroccan giants — who boast a record 22 domestic titles — debuted at the Club World Cup in the 2017–18 season, where they lost the fifth-place playoff to Urawa Red Diamonds. They were then eliminated in the second round by Al-Hilal in the 2022–23 tournament.
Wydad booked their place in this expanded edition thanks to their 2021–22 CAF Champions League title, but their performances over the last two seasons have left much to be desired.
In their domestic league, Wydad could only finish third in the 2024–25 Botola Pro, and they suffered their first-ever group-stage exit in the CAF Champions League during the 2023–24 campaign.
They also endured back-to-back friendly defeats to Porto and Sevilla last month, both by narrow 1-0 margins. As a result, keeping the scoreline respectable will likely be their primary goal on Wednesday.
All four of City’s new signings — Reijnders, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, and backup goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli — are present in the U.S., and the first three are almost certain to make their debuts in Philadelphia.
Injury-prone defender John Stones is also with the squad despite still recovering from the thigh injury that sidelined him late last season.
Mateo Kovacic, however, remains at home to recover from his heel issue.
With a match against Juventus just eight days away, Guardiola — known for his bold squad rotations — may opt for a mixed XI, but as always, predicting his exact lineup remains a mystery.
Meanwhile, Wydad have brought a 29-man squad to the tournament, headlined by veteran winger Nordin Amrabat.
