As Manchester City prepares to defend their title at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, the club’s unveiling of their new tournament kits has sparked both excitement and amusement among fans. The reigning champions, set to face Morocco’s Wydad AC, UAE’s Al Ain, and Italy’s Juventus in Group G starting June 18 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, introduced a striking set of kits designed by Puma in collaboration with New York-based fashion designer KidSuper. However, an awkward oversight in the promotional images featuring wantaway star Jack Grealish has left supporters chuckling and speculating. “I would like to help young people become the best version of themselves,” former City star Shaun Wright-Phillips said of the kit, unaware of the blunder that would steal the spotlight.
The kits themselves are a bold departure from City’s traditional sky-blue palette. The home kit, predominantly white with a black and red diagonal sash, pays homage to the club’s iconic 2009-11 third shirt and the 2011-12 season, when Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal clinched the Premier League. Embedded within the design is a pattern mimicking the “Poznan” celebration, where fans turn their backs, link arms, and jump in unison—a nod to City’s passionate supporter culture adopted from Lech Poznan in 2010. The away kit, a vibrant “neon sun” orange with black and yellow sash stripes, offers a daring contrast, while the goalkeeper kit dazzles in pink and purple. “Designing a kit for a club as iconic as Manchester City has been an amazing experience,” said KidSuper’s Colm Dillane. “I wanted to push the design into another space and take a famous City look and give it a new twist using hand-painted graphics to create something that works well on pitch but also looks good partnered with lifestyle clothing and streetwear.”
The excitement over the kits, set to be worn in select matches before their full debut in the 2025-26 season, was overshadowed by a glaring error in the announcement. Promotional images prominently featured Grealish modeling the new home kit, despite widespread reports that the £100 million signing is unlikely to be part of City’s Club World Cup squad. With only seven Premier League starts in the 2024-25 season and speculation swirling about a summer move to clubs like Tottenham, Newcastle, or Napoli, Grealish’s inclusion in the campaign raised eyebrows. “Jack’s not even going to wear this kit!” one fan posted on social media, while another quipped, “Why’s Grealish front and center when he’s halfway out the door?” The blunder, spotted instantly by eagle-eyed supporters, fueled memes and debates, with some joking that City’s marketing team had scored an own goal.
Grealish’s uncertain future adds context to the gaffe. Earning £300,000 per week, the former Aston Villa star has struggled for minutes under Pep Guardiola, who defended his decision to keep him but admitted, “The reason Jack didn’t play much was because he was not able. He had niggles and problems.” Interest from abroad, including Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan, alongside Premier League suitors, suggests Grealish may depart for as little as £40 million. “He has to move this summer,” former City goalkeeper Shay Given urged, calling him a “generational talent” needing regular play to revive his England career ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The kit controversy echoes earlier fan backlash when City opted for a non-traditional fourth kit, inspired by Oasis’ *Definitely Maybe*, for a Champions League match against Inter Milan in 2024. After reports suggested City might abandon their sky-blue colors entirely for the Club World Cup, the club clarified they would wear their new 2025-26 sky-blue home kit for most matches, easing concerns. “It’s great to see this iconic Manchester City kit make a comeback,” Wright-Phillips added, praising the sash design’s nod to the 1970s. Despite the Grealish blunder, the kits have generated buzz, with fans eager to see stars like Erling Haaland don the Poznan-inspired designs. As City aims to repeat their 2023 Club World Cup triumph in a revamped 32-team format, the focus will soon shift from marketing missteps to their quest for global glory.
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