Manchester City sent more players than any other club to the 2026 World Cup, and nearly all of them look likely to remain in the tournament deep into the knockout stages. That presents new manager Enzo Maresca with an early pre-season challenge as he prepares for his first summer in charge.
Maresca Faces Late-Night World Cup Cheerleading
As the summer tournament enters the final games of the group stages, permutations are starting to take shape. The 48 teams will be whittled down to 32 that contest the first knockout round. In the early hours of Sunday morning, a double bill may be of particular attention to Maresca: Uzbekistan play DR Congo, then Algeria play Austria as they look to play their way into the next stage.
Algeria already have three points but are currently third in their group, while Uzbekistan will have to win and hope they scrape through as one of the top eight third-place finishes. Those two games are some of the only realistic chances of Maresca seeing any of the 17 City players leave the World Cup in the groups.
Abdukodir Khusanov and Rayan Ait-Nouri Eye Extension
Abdukodir Khusanov and Rayan Ait-Nouri will both be looking to extend their stays in the United States, although from Maresca's point of view the more of his players remain at the World Cup the harder pre-season is going to be. It remains to be seen what approach the new coach will take to the summer tour in terms of how much rest he gives to players after the World Cup.
With the Blues heading off to Hong Kong in the final week of July, that is basically four weeks from the first knockout matches in the US. The last-16 matches start a week after that. FIFPro, the global players' union, advises four weeks off in summer, so for anybody who reaches the last-32 that would suggest they will not be on the plane heading from Manchester to Hong Kong if that advice is taken.
City Looking at 13 to 17 Players Missing Tour
City are currently looking at a number between 13 and 17 for players who will fall into that bracket. It is a headache for Maresca to handle as he starts the daunting task of succeeding Pep Guardiola. He will want as many of his players with him as quickly as possible before the season starts, yet as he follows a man who gave his squad more rest than most it may not go down well if he cuts holidays short in order to haul people across the world.
Maresca knows his new players well enough that he won't learn anything new from watching them at the World Cup. It will be an anxious sight though to see how well so many are extending their stays and delaying their return to Manchester. A stiff drink may be needed to get through the games in the early hours of Sunday.
