Despite receiving a red card for Rico Lewis late in the game, Manchester City kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup journey with a 2–0 victory against Wydad Casablanca, with goals from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku.
Foden broke the deadlock just 114 seconds into the match at Lincoln Financial Field, following some excellent play from Doku. The two teammates connected again just before halftime, increasing City’s lead.
Wydad Casablanca sought to mount a response but showed minimal signs of a comeback during the second half. The late excitement arose when Lewis accidentally struck Samuel Obeng in the face with a stray boot, though he had cleanly won the initial tackle.
City manager Pep Guardiola gave debuts to new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, who both started in an attacking formation. Among the front six, Reijnders, being the only defensively minded player, stood out as the most notable of the new recruits.
However, this setup occasionally left City vulnerable defensively, as they displayed a clear lack of urgency in tracking back, which exposed their defense.
Thembinkosi Lorch was a continuous threat, and Wydad nearly leveled the score in the first half before a defensive lapse at a set-piece allowed City to extend their advantage.
The tempo of the match slowed following the break, particularly after Doku was substituted, although Guardiola managed to give Rodri some game time as he continues to recover from a long-term injury. Erling Haaland also came on but could not add to the score.
Manchester City will take on Al Ain in their next match in the early hours of Monday (kick-off at 2am UK and Ireland time) and will finish their Group G campaign against Juventus on Thursday (kick-off 8pm UK and Ireland time).
Meanwhile, Real Madrid played to a 1–1 draw against a strong Al Hilal side, as Xabi Alonso’s managerial debut did not result in a victory in Florida. Madrid showed only flashes of potential on Wednesday under the sweltering Miami heat at the nearly sold-out Hard Rock Stadium.
Gonzalo Garcia, who filled in for the ill Kylian Mbappé, put Real ahead in the 34th minute with a composed finish following a well-organized attack down the right flank. However, Portuguese international Ruben Neves equalized from the penalty spot just before half-time.
Neves successfully sent Thibaut Courtois the wrong way, and Simone Inzaghi’s squad exhibited both solid defensive discipline and effective attacking play that posed problems for their high-profile rivals.
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Madrid appeared ready to secure victory late in the match, but Federico Valverde was unable to convert a penalty, which cost them the three points.
Real Madrid will be playing against a Mexican team on Sunday, while Al Hilal will face Salzburg in what could be a crucial match for knockout-stage advancement.
It was also a debut evening for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made his first start for Los Blancos after his transfer from Liverpool.
Commenting post-match, former Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Alonso remarked, “The first half wasn’t as strong as the second; we improved and created better chances and had more control. Each game offers us positives—we can learn and continue to improve.”
In other news, Juventus, who ended last season in fourth place in Serie A, demolished Al Ain 5–0 in their opening Club World Cup match in Washington.
The Italian powerhouses topped Group G ahead of Manchester City, looking to redeem themselves with silverware at this summer’s tournament in the United States.
