This upcoming summer, Manchester City is set to participate in the revamped Club World Cup, marking their second stint in the prestigious competition. After clinching the title in 2023, Pep Guardiola’s squad will be aiming to secure their second triumph in 2025.
Manchester City’s Journey in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Essential Information
As one of 32 global teams competing, Manchester City will be featured in the 2025 Club World Cup. The newly structured tournament kicks off in the USA on Saturday, June 14, and culminates with the final on Sunday, July 14.
We’ve compiled all the necessary details regarding City’s participation, including fixtures, opponents, squad updates, viewing options, and more to ensure you can support the Sky Blues as they chase international glory in the US.
Fixtures, Schedule, and Opponents
The Club World Cup follows a format similar to the World Cup, comprising 32 teams divided into eight groups. Following a seeding and draw process last December, Manchester City finds themselves in Group G, positioned as one of the favourites for the title. They will compete against Morocco’s Wydad AC, UAE’s Al Ain FC, victors of the AFC Champions League, and Italian giants Juventus.
City will take on each of these opponents, commencing with Wydad AC on June 18, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Their next match will be against Al Ain FC on June 22 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, followed by a clash with Juventus at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando on June 26.
Group Stage Match Fixtures
Manchester City vs. Wydad
Date: Wednesday, June 18
Kick-off: 12pm EDT
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (PA)
Manchester City vs. Al Ain
Date: Sunday, June 22
Kick-off: 9pm EDT
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (GA)
Juventus vs. Manchester City
Date: Wednesday, June 26
Kick-off: 3pm EDT
Stadium: Camping World Stadium, Orlando (FL)
Knockout Stage Match Fixtures
The knockout stage of the Club World Cup will mirror the traditional structure used in similar tournaments, with the top two teams from each group advancing. The knockout phase begins with the round of 16, where each team competes in a single-elimination match against an opponent from a different group based on group standings—winners will face runners-up from other groups.
If Manchester City performs well in Group G, they will take on a team from Group H in the round of 16. This group includes formidable encounters with Real Madrid from Spain, Saudi Arabian powerhouses Al Hilal, Concacaf Champions Cup holders Pachuca from Mexico, and Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg.
Potential Round of 16 Matches for Manchester City
R16 Match 6: Group G winners vs. Group H runners-up
Date: Tuesday, July 1
Kick-off: 2am EDT
Stadium: Camping World Stadium, Orlando (FL)
R16 Match 7: Group H winners vs. Group H runners-up
Date: Tuesday, July 1
Kick-off: 8pm EDT
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami (FL)
Opponents for Manchester City at CWC 2025
Wydad AC – Morocco
Morocco’s Wydad AC is among the four African clubs in this year’s Club World Cup. They earned their spot by winning the CAF Champions League for the 2021/22 season and hold the record for the most league titles in Morocco with an impressive 22 championships.
Al Ain FC – UAE
From the UAE, Al Ain will represent Asia as one of four teams in the tournament, having secured qualification by winning the 2023/24 AFC Champions League. They are renowned as the most successful club in the UAE’s history, with former stars like Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan, who made a significant impact during his time at the club.
Juventus FC – Italy
As one of Italy’s most iconic football clubs, Juventus joins the fray as one of 12 European contenders. They qualified for the tournament through consistent performances in the UEFA Champions League, earning them a place via the UEFA ranking pathway. Known as ‘The Old Lady’, Juve boasts an impressive history, including nine consecutive league titles from 2011/12 to 2019/20.
Broadcasting: Where to Catch Manchester City at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Fans can catch all 63 matches of the Club World Cup live on DAZN, which will stream every fixture for free. This welcome move allows City supporters to follow every moment without additional costs.
As DAZN holds exclusive broadcasting rights, they can also sub-licence matches to free-to-air channels. City fans can enjoy the action online or by downloading the DAZN app on various devices, including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, or gaming consoles.
Expected Line-up: Manchester City’s Squad for CWC 2025
As Manchester City prepares to enter the Club World Cup, they aim to have several key players fit following injuries. Although squads may rotate, expect City to field a team rich in experience.
Clubs involved in the tournament receive special permissions to manage transfer activities ahead of schedule; thus, City’s transfer window will open earlier in June, granting them the potential to include new signings in their squad.
Furthermore, players whose contracts expire during the tournament can still play until its conclusion. For City, this means Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Scott Carson may all feature even if they haven’t re-signed by June 30.
Young talents such as Nico O’Reilly and Divin Mubama are likely to get chances to make an impact, alongside recent acquisitions Claudio Echeverri and Vitor Reis. Key players returning from injury, such as Rodri and Nathan Ake, are also expected to make their mark.
Potential Club World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers
Ederson, Stegan Ortega, Scott Carson
Defenders
Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis, Nico O’Reilly
Midfielders
Rodri, Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic, Nico Gonzales, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Claudio Echeverri, James McAtee
Forwards
Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Savinho, Erling Haaland, Iscar Bobb, Omar Marmoush
Key Players to Watch
Rodri
After suffering an ACL injury that kept him inactive for much of the 2024/25 season, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner has begun training again. Pep Guardiola has hinted at his return before the conclusion of the domestic season, and it’s expected that the world’s best player will seek to regain sharpness during the Club World Cup. Rodri boasts a remarkable record of 52 games unbeaten in the Premier League, with a 74% win ratio with City, showcasing his impact on the squad.
Omar Marmoush
The January signing has already demonstrated his striking ability in the Premier League, netting a hat trick. As he acclimatises to City’s style and rhythm, expect this Egyptian forward to shine even brighter as the season unfolds.
Erling Haaland
The name Erling Haaland has become synonymous with exceptional goal-scoring. With 221 goals from 252 career appearances, he holds the record for the most goals in a Premier League season and is the fastest player to reach 30 and 40 goals in the Champions League.
Odds for Victory: What are City’s Chances?
This season has not unfolded as memorably for Manchester City, given their usual high standards. Their only shot at silverware now appears to be the FA Cup, and inconsistent performances across competitions have sparked hope among other contenders.
Nevertheless, the bookmakers still favour Manchester City to win the 2025 Club World Cup, with odds at 7/2, closely followed by Real Madrid at 4/1, Bayern Munich at 7/1, and Chelsea at 17/2. European clubs dominate the betting landscape, with Inter Milan at 11/1, PSG at 12/1, and Atletico Madrid at 14/1.
Qualification: How Did City Secure Their Spot for the 2025 Tournament?
Manchester City earned their place in the Club World Cup by triumphing in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League, where they defeated Inter Milan in Istanbul, thanks to a decisive goal from Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner. All teams with a major continental title from the past four seasons have been invited to the tournament.
Manchester City’s 2025 Club World Cup Kit
As of now, City has not revealed a specific kit for the tournament. They have also yet to present the kit for the 2025/26 season, leaving fans curious about what the team will don stateside.
Have Manchester City Previously Won the Club World Cup?
Manchester City has only lifted the Champions League trophy once, hence their previous appearance in the Club World Cup was limited to the old format. This tournament took place in Saudi Arabia in 2023, where City faced Urawa Red Diamonds, the AFC Champions League winners, in the semifinals. Following a convincing 3-0 victory, City advanced to the final, where they outperformed Fluminense, winning 4-0 and securing their maiden Club World Cup title.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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