Man City to Face Wydad in Club World Cup Opener

Manchester City will open their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Wydad Casablanca at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, as part of the tournament's first-ever staging in the United States. City are aiming to recover from a trophyless 2024-25 season that included a third-place Premier League finish and an FA Cup final loss. Manager Pep Guardiola has restructured his squad with new signings Rayan Aït-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki, all likely to play a role in the opener. Bernardo Silva has been appointed as the new club captain. Wydad Casablanca, making their third Club World Cup appearance after a mixed domestic season, are expected to employ a defensive, counter-attacking strategy. The match will be streamed live on DAZN as City pursue their first world title in the expanded 32-team format.