Manchester City aim to solidify their position in Group G of the FIFA Club World Cup when they face Al Ain at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 23, 2025, at 02:00 GMT.
The defending champions kicked off their campaign against Wydad AC on June 18th, while Al Ain, the UAE representatives, faced Juventus on June 19th. City are favoured to advance from a group that also includes Moroccan side Wydad AC and Italian giants Juventus.
Match Preview
Manchester City, the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup winner, entered the tournament as one of the favourites, boasting a star-studded squad. With our football stats reporting on their 4-0 victory in the 2023 final, which showcased their dominance, they are expected to control possession and create numerous chances against Al Ain. They proved as such with goals from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku in their opening match against the Moroccan side, Wydad AC, in a 2-0 victory.
Aside from their attacking threat, Pep Guardiola’s side has been strong defensively of late, keeping just five clean sheets in their last seven matches.
At the other end of the pitch, Haaland is likely to be one of the Citizens’ key players, having scored 22 goals in the 2024-25 Premier League season. City’s previous encounters with non-European sides in the Club World Cup have been one-sided, and they will look to exploit Al Ain’s relatively weaker defence.
Al Ain, the 2023-24 AFC Champions League winners, qualified for the tournament as one of Asia’s representatives. They finished fifth in the 2024-25 UAE Pro League, winning 12 of 26 matches. Like most clubs in the competition, they have a squad drawn from all corners of the globe.
Their group stage match against Juventus exposed their defensive vulnerabilities, conceding twice in a 2-1 loss. Al Ain have struggled against elite opposition, losing three of their last five matches against top-tier clubs.
The UAE side will aim to frustrate City with a compact defensive setup, but their lack of firepower upfront could limit their counter-attacking threat. Al Ain have scored just six goals in their last five competitive matches, and they face an uphill battle against City’s relentless attack.
Historically, Manchester City and Al Ain have never met in competitive action, making this a fresh challenge for both sides. City’s experience in high-stakes tournaments gives them a clear edge, but Al Ain’s underdog status could inspire a resilient performance.
Manchester City FIFA Club World Cup form:
- Vs Wydad AC 2-0 (W) 18/06/25
Manchester City form (all competitions):
- W (A) 2-0 against Fulham (Premier League) 25/05/25
- W (H) 3-1 against Bournemouth (Premier League) 20/05/25
- L (N)1-0 against Crystal Palace (FA Cup) 17/05/25
- D (A) 0-0 against Southampton (Premier League) 10/05/25
- W (H)1-0 against Wolves (Premier League) 02/05/25
Al Ain FIFA Club World Cup form:
- vs Juventus 0-5 (L) 19/06/25
Al Ain form (all competitions):
- W (A) 2-0 against Al-Nasr (UAE Pro League) 23/05/25
- D (H) 0-0 against Ajman Club (UAE Pro League) 19/05/25
- W (A) 3-0 against Sharjah FC (UAE Pro League) 12/05/25
- D (H) 1-1 against Al-Jazira (UAE Pro League) 04/05/25
- W (A) 3-0 against FC Baniyas (UAE Pro League) 22/04/25
Team News
Manchester City could see Rodri return to the starting XI after limited minutes against Wydad, anchoring the midfield alongside Tijjani Reijnders. Erling Haaland could start this encounter after only making a cameo from the bench in the opener Savinho and Jeremy Doku on the wings.
Guardiola may rotate his defence, with new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri potentially featuring at left-back, with Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias forming the central defensive partnership. Ederson is expected to start in goal. Rico Lewis is suspended after his red card in the opening game.
Al Ain are expected to stick with their core UAE-based squad, with Rui Patricio in goal. Defenders Marcel Ratnik and Kouame Autonne could be tasked with containing Haaland. Meanwhile in midfielder Matias Palacios and Kaku may be deployed to disrupt City’s rhythm.
Up top, Soufiane Rahimi, Al Ain’s leading scorer with five goals in the UAE Pro League, is likely to start alongside Kodjo Laba. No major injuries have been reported, but Al Ain’s lack of depth could be a concern against City’s high-intensity pressing.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Reijnders; Savinho, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Al Ain possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Zabala, Autonne, Rabia, Ratnik, Traore; Palacios, Kaku; Park; Rahimi, Laba
We say: Manchester City 3-0 Al Ain
Al Ain’s defensive resilience will be tested by Manchester City’s attacking juggernaut. While the UAE side may look to frustrate City early, the Premier League champions’ quality and depth should overwhelm them. Expect Haaland to find the net and City to secure a comfortable victory as they push for a knockout stage berth.
