LONDON (AP) — Kevin De Bruyne has cast doubt over whether he will play at the Club World Cup because he fears getting injured before he leaves Manchester City.
The Belgian playmaker is out of contract at the end of the season and will become a free agent.
But there is the potential he could sign a short-term extension that would enable to him to play in the newly expanded Club World Cup in June and July.
“I think in a way I have to take care of myself because if I get injured in the Club World Cup, what am I going to do?” De Bruyne said. “Nobody’s going to take care of me at that point. So there’s a big chance probably I won’t play it, but I don't know, maybe yes.”
De Bruyne will leave City after 10 years and 14 major trophies after the Premier League club decided not to offer him a new deal.
At the age of 33, he is now considering his options, but says there has been uncertainty over whether City wants him to be part of its squad for the Club World Cup in United States.
With two games left to go this season, he said he had to consider what is best for his own career as he prepares for his next move.
“I have to take care of my family. I’ve got three kids, my wife, it’s not an easy process at this time," he said.
The timing of the Club World Cup, which has been expanded from seven teams to 32, has led to FIFA introducing a short-term transfer window to enable players whose contracts expire on June 30 to move to clubs participating in the tournament. It also allows players like De Bruyne to sign short-term deals purely to take part before moving on as free agents.
But that brings with it the risk of him suffering a serious injury that would jeopardise a future transfer.
If he doesn't play at the Club World Cup, De Bruyne will leave City emptyhanded after Saturday's FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.
City also surrendered the Premier League title this season after winning an unprecedented four in a row.
“This year has just not gone the way we wanted it to. You have to accept it. You have to move on and work hard and go again,” De Bruyne said. “It’s alright. This doesn’t change anything that’s happened in the past 10 years.”
De Bruyne said he has yet to decide on his next move would and whether he would look to join another Premier League team.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne acknowledge fans after losing the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at the Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
HANOI, Vietnam--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 13, 2026--
FPT, through its global IT services subsidiary FPT Software, has achieved ISO/IEC 42001:2023, the first global standard for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Management Systems. With this milestone, FPT became the first company in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia to earn this recognition, underscoring its commitment to responsible AI development and deployment with consideration for fairness and impartiality, privacy and security, safety, quality and robustness, governance, transparency and explainability.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112494011/en/
The certification was issued by the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company SGS and qualified by ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) - a leading U.S. accreditation body with global recognition. ISO/IEC 42001 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving AI management systems, allowing organizations to effectively manage risks and opportunities associated with AI, balancing innovation with compliance.
Achieving ISO/IEC 42001:2023 reflects FPT’s capability in AI governance, encompassing ethics, risk management, transparency, compliance, and ensuring alignment with both business goals and societal values. It also strengthens FPT’s position as a trusted technology partner for global organizations, especially those in highly regulated industries such as banking and financial services, automotive, healthcare, energy, and the public sector. The milestone further solidifies FPT’s position as an AI-first company, strengthening its foundation for scaling AI responsibly while helping clients navigate evolving regulatory, ethical, and operational challenges associated with AI adoption.
“As an AI-first company, we pledge to prioritize safety, ethics and accountability at every stage of our AI lifecycle. By continuously governing AI development and implementation processes, we provide our clients and partners with the assurance that our solutions are built with responsibility, transparency and adhere to international excellence,” said Dao Duy Cuong, FPT Software EVP and Chief Digital & Technology Officer, FPT Corporation.
FPT actively promotes responsible AI development as a founding member of the AI Alliance led by IBM and Meta, and the Vietnam Ethical AI Committee. The company is committed to embedding rigorous AI governance across its global operations and solution portfolio, including its flagship AI platform FleziPT, which boosts productivity by 30%, accelerates development by 60% and reduces 50% in rework. The company also maintains co-creation partnerships with global leaders like AWS, Microsoft, SAP, and NVIDIA to deliver tailored solutions for industry-specific challenges. Supporting these efforts is a workforce of over 25,000 AI-augmented, globally certified engineers, and world-class infrastructure including cutting-edge AI Factories in Vietnam and Japan, which have been ranked among the world’s Top 40 fastest supercomputers. Expanding its AI footprint, FPT is developing a new Research Center in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, which is expected to become a critical component of its global AI development network, supporting high-quality talent cultivation for both the local community and the nation.
About FPT
FPT Corporation (FPT) is a globally leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam, operating in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. Over more than three decades, FPT has consistently delivered impactful solutions to millions of individuals and tens of thousands of organizations worldwide. As an AI-first company, FPT is committed to elevating Vietnam’s position on the global tech map and delivering world-class AI-enabled solutions for global enterprises. FPT focuses on three critical transformations: Digital Transformation, Intelligence Transformation, and Green Transformation. In 2024, FPT reported a total revenue of USD 2.47 billion and a workforce of over 54,000 employees across its core businesses. For more information about FPT's global IT services, please visit https://fptsoftware.com.
FPT received ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification during the certification award ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam
