Man City vs Wydad Casablanca Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Group Stage

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After a disappointing 2024-25, a new-look Man City open their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Moroccan representatives Wydad Casablanca.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN & Channel 5 / US – DAZN

Man City team news: Debuts in store

Summer arrivals Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki could all be handed debuts by Pep Guardiola, who may hold back some of his key men for tougher tests to come. After missing the majority of last season, Rodri could also be given the nod in this one as he builds up his fitness.

John Stones is part of the travelling squad despite his injury issues, but Mateo Kovacic will play no part in the tournament due to a heel issue.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Nunes, Khusanov, Gvardiol, Aït-Nouri; Rodri, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden, Doku; Marmoush

Unavailable:

Questionable: Stones (Injured)

Wydad Casablanca team news: Amrabat set to feature

Wydad have bolstered their squad in the lead-up to the tournament with Bart Meijers, Stephane Aziz Ki and Nordin Amrabat joining their ranks.

All three could be handed debuts here, with veteran Amrabat having previous experience in English football with Watford and Hull City.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): El Motie; Moufi, Meijers, Harkass, Boucheta; Aziz Ki, Moubarik; Amrabat, Arthur, Rayhi; Obeng

Unavailable:

Questionable:

Key stats

• Champions of England ten times in total, Manchester City became the first club to win four successive English top-division titles with their 2023/24 Premier League triumph.
• City earned their FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ spot when they won the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League final, a goal from Rodri giving them a 1-0 victory over Internazionale and their first-ever success in Europe’s premier club competition.
• City toured the United States during 2024/25 pre-season, with matches against Celtic (L 3-4), Milan (L 2-3), Barcelona (D 2-2, L 1-4 pens) and Chelsea (W 4-2).
• Pep Guardiola featured for Spain as a player at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, the Manchester City manager scored from the penalty spot in the group stage against Bolivia
• Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has won a remarkable total of 18 trophies since he took over at the club in 2016.
• Pep Guardiola has captured four FIFA club competition titles as a coach, winning global showpieces with Barcelona (2009 and 2011), Bayern (2013) and City (2023).
• City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland scored nine goals in a single match to top the scoring chart at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
• City defender Abdukodir Khusanov is part of the Uzbekistan squad that made history on 5 June 2025 by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time.
• City’s Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush was on the winning team for his country in a 2-1 extra-time victory against Morocco in the quarter-finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
• Record 22-time Moroccan title-winners Wydad qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ by way of their victory in the 2022 CAF Champions League when they overcame Al Ahly 2-0 to win the competition for third time, following their successes in 1992 and 2017.
• Wydad came close to adding a fourth CAF Champions League title a year in 2023 when they reached the final again only to lose out over two legs against Al Ahly.
• During his time at Watford (2016-2018), Wydad midfielder Nordin Amrabat twice faced City in the 2016-17 English Premier League season. Amrabat completed a short spell at English Championship club Hull City in the 2024-25 campaign before joining Wydad last month.
• Morocco’s most capped player, Noureddine Naybet won three league titles in his four seasons at Wydad in the 1990’s, as well as the 1992 CAF Champions League. During his long international career, he featured in several major tournaments including the 1994 World Cup in USA.
• City’s Phil Foden won the Golden Ball in England’s successful campaign at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Man City vs Wydad Casablanca prediction

2023 FIFA Club World Cup champions Man City (a tournament now retroactively referred to as an Intercontinental Cup) begin their campaign in the new-look tournament as they seek to rebuild their aura following a hugely underwhelming 2024-25 by their standards.

With some exciting new signings having been made in the off-season though, as well as the imminent return to fitness of key midfielder Rodri, it would not be a huge surprise to see Guardiola’s men go all the way in the USA.

Up first for the English outfit are Wydad Casablanca, who earned their place in the tournament thanks to their CAF Champions League success in 2021-22.

The Moroccan side have been in slight decline since then though, and only finished third in their domestic league last season.

City’s new recruits will be keen to put on a show here, and it is difficult to see Wydad containing them. Expect a comfortable win for Guardiola’s men in what could be a high-scoring affair.

Man City vs Wydad Casablanca tip: Man City to win & over 3.5 goals