The Blues hoping to get off to a winning start
The countdown is narrowing down for this Club World Cup kick-off, so we take a look at Group G. This group features two European heavyweights Man City and Juventus while also including Wydad AC and Al Ain. With Group G appearing more like two-horse race, with Man City and Juventus as the two strongest clubs, these two European Giants can expect a straightforward path to the knockouts. Despite this group being relatively easy to call, it still contains some of the biggest ties of the whole group stage phase, with Man City taking on Juventus. Some players to look out for include Haaland, Foden, Yildiz, and Gonzalez.
Wydad Casablanca await the chance to face City and Juve
Not familiar to many soccer fans, Wydad AC achieved what they thought was impossible by qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The 2022 CAF Champions League winners would have been hoping for a more favorable draw but will be fazed by the idea of facing two European heavyweights. They will hope that, even if they fall short against Man City and Juventus, it is not a thrashing.
Al Ain to look to star man Rahimi to cause an upset
The 2024 AFC Champions League winners would have also hoped for a more favorable draw but will not back down from the challenge of facing Man City or Juventus. Al Ain did the unpredictable and secured the Champions League in 2024, beating two of Saudi Arabia’s biggest teams, Al Hilal and Al Nassr, en route to the final. Whether or not they qualify from their group, reaching this tournament is, on its own, a great achievement.
City hoping new signings can deliver for them
Coming off the back of a disappointing season, Man City have been busy preparing this transfer market for the Club World Cup. The Premier League giants added Reijnders, Cherki, and Rayan Ait Nouri in the hopes of bolstering their squad. All signs point to Man City going all in for the FIFA Club World Cup. All these new signings will bring a blend of dynamism, creativity, defensive capabilities, the ability to disrupt play, and many others. These signings also add a bit of youth to City’s squad. Last year, one of the factors that contributed to their downfall was an ageing squad. Man City will certainly fancy their chances of lifting the first edition of this tournament after bolstering their squad.
Juventus hoping to clinch top spot
Despite getting drawn with Man City, Juventus will not be intimidated by the big names that City’s squad possesses. After all, the Bianconeri did beat City in the Champions League earlier this season. Juventus were handed a relatively easy group, with the Old Lady more than confident of securing knockout football. The main question for the Italian giants is: can they top Man City and clinch first place so they can save themselves from an unfavorable Round of 16 draw? Though they may not be strong suitors to go on and win the tournament, the Bianconeri certainly have many weapons in their arsenal to have a good run. Their traditional Italian playing style, with an organized backline and a quick counter-attack, makes facing them an unfavorable draw for any major team.
