As Manchester City prepare for their Club World Cup last-16 clash with Al-Hilal on Monday, Pep Guardiola’s squad is dealing with a few key injury and suspension concerns. The Premier League champions breezed through the group stage with a flawless record, collecting all nine points from matches against Juventus, Al-Ain, and Wydad AC.
Their 5-2 demolition of Juventus cemented their place at the top of Group G and set up a meeting with Saudi side Al-Hilal, who finished second in Group H behind Real Madrid. Ahead of the knockout tie, here’s a round-up of City’s latest fitness and suspension updates.
🔴 Injury List
Mateo Kovacic
- Injury Type: Achilles
- Status: Out for season
- Return Date: Unknown (likely 2025–26 season)
Kovacic didn’t travel with the squad after undergoing surgery on an Achilles injury. His season appears to be over, with no return expected until the start of the next campaign.
Claudio Echeverri
- Injury Type: Ankle
- Status: Out
- Possible Return Date: July 13 (Club World Cup Final)
Echeverri suffered an ankle injury in training prior to the win over Juventus. Guardiola revealed he’ll be sidelined for two to three weeks, which may rule him out of the entire tournament. However, if City reach the final on July 13, there’s an outside chance he could return in time.
🟨 Suspension Update
Rico Lewis
- Status: Suspended (1 match remaining)
- Return Date: July 4 (Quarter-final vs Inter Milan or Fluminense)
Lewis was shown a red card on matchday one and is currently serving a three-game suspension. He’ll miss the Al-Hilal match but will be available for the quarter-final should City advance.
Despite these setbacks, City head into the Al-Hilal clash as strong favourites. With depth across every position and momentum on their side, Guardiola will be confident in navigating the next round—especially with key players potentially returning deeper into the competition.