Manchester City are currently in the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Premier League side are preparing for their first match of the competition on Wednesday as City take on Wydad AC in the opening contest of Group G.
There was talk before the Manchester club set out for America that Pep Guardiola was not too bothered about the Club World Cup; however, the squad he has taken to the United States says otherwise, as the legendary coach has brought all of his big guns.
The competition is very important for Man City’s hierarchy, as they view the tournament as a unique opportunity to grow their brand, and The Athletic’s Adam Crafton shares what he has noticed amongst American football fans recently.
Pep Guardiola gets off the plane for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images
Man City merchandise is on the rise
Speaking about Man City ahead of their opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup, Crafton has explained that the board at the Manchester club view the tournament as a way of growing their brand, while also stating that he has noticed a rise in City merchandise in the United States recently.
“City do seem into this. They have been trying really hard over the last few years to push their brand. In the United States, we know they have this multi-club model,” the journalist said on The Athletic’s FC Podcast.
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“They’ve got a team in New York, New York City, they often go on tour here. A bit like PSG, City’s merch is quite lifestyle as a brand, and you do see a lot of it. Walking around the States, I’ve been living here over a year now.
“I do see more Man City merch and more City apparel than I see from quite a few other Premier League teams. I probably include Man United in that, in terms of who I see more of. City are growing here, they are keen on it.”
This is a key element of the Manchester club’s trip to America this summer, while for the players, it is an opportunity for some Man City stars to impress Guardiola ahead of the Premier League getting back underway in August.
Manchester City are conquering America
Throughout the 2024/25 season, NBC Sports averaged a viewership of 510,000 per televised Premier League match in America, which is a huge audience that Man City have been targeting.
Most Americans get to choose the Premier League club they support, and the success City have had over the last 15 years has played a big part in the Manchester club’s growing popularity in America, which the hierarchy of the English giants are trying to take advantage of by winning the FIFA Club World Cup.
This is evident in shirt sales as only Liverpool and Chelsea are ahead of Man City in the United States, with the latest data collected between August 2024 and January 2025, according to Soccer.com via GOAL.
Most popular club Most popular player
Liverpool Cole Palmer
Chelsea Erling Haaland
Man City Mohamed Salah
Arsenal Bukayo Saka
Man United Virgil van Dijk
The top five Premier League club and player shirts sold in the United States.
As long as Man City keep winning, the club’s fanbase will continue to grow, and the hierarchy at the Manchester club hopes that continues this summer in America.