The game is the first match of Group G in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which is a new tournament with 32 teams from six different confederations.
Match Prediction
Manchester City, who are the champions of Europe, qualified because they won the last tournament in 2023.
Wydad Casablanca got their chance by winning the 2022 CAF Champions League, and this will be their third time in the tournament.
This match is exciting because it’s their first time playing against each other. Group G also has Juventus and Al-Ain, so it’s really important to start strong.
18.06.2025 18:00
FIFA Club World Cup – Round 1
Manchester City vs Wydad
Manchester City finished third in the Premier League, 2024/25 season, earning 71 points from 38 games. They had 21 wins, 7 draws, and 10 losses, with a goal difference of +28. Although they didn’t win the title (which went to Liverpool with 84 points), this result shows they are still very competitive, allowing them to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Their team includes stars like Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, and they are famous for their attacking style of play that focuses on keeping possession. This style has helped them achieve many successes both in their country and internationally, including winning the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.
Wydad AC, located in Casablanca, Morocco, had a great 2024/25 season in the Botola Pro, finishing in third place with 54 points from 30 games, and they had a goal difference of +18. This shows how competitive they are in local football, which allowed them to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup. Wydad is a club with a rich history in Africa, having won the CAF Champions League three times (in 1992, 2017, and 2022), with their latest win in 2022 against Al Ahly, proving they can compete at a high level in Africa.
But now, their participation in the 2025 Club World Cup means they are back in international competitions for the first time since the 2014–15 season, as they didn’t qualify for any African tournaments during that time.
Based on the analysis, Manchester City is definitely the top contender. Their strong team, good recent performance, and past success in the Club World Cup indicate they will dominate the match. We expect to see at least 4 goals in the game, which shows their ability to score several times, using their offensive players, while Wydad’s defense might have a hard time stopping them. This prediction matches previous results, like Manchester City’s 4-0 victory over Fluminense in 2023, and it also considers Wydad’s chance to score, even though it’s not very likely because of the difference in team quality.
Our prediction:
4+ (OVER3.5)
Odds:1.88
Published: 18.06.2025 09:21
Kindly be advised that all odds are accurate as of the publication date and time indicated, and they may be subject to alterations.
All kick-off times and updates are provided in Central European Summer Time +2 (GMT+2).
How the Teams Might Line Up:
Manchester City (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Ederson
Defense: Aït-Nouri, Gvardiol, Dias, Nunes
Midfield: Rodri, Reijnders
Attack: Marmoush, Cherki, Silva
Striker: Haaland
Wydad Casablanca (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Benabid
Defense: Nassik, Boutouil, Dairani, Moufi
Midfield: Zemraoui, Moubarik, Moutaraji
Forwards: Rayhi, Obeng, Amrabat
Players Who Won’t Play:
Manchester City will be without Jack Grealish. New signings Rayan Aït-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki are expected to make their full debuts.
Wydad Casablanca miss Ayoub Boucheta and Renan Viana due to injury. Experienced winger Nordin Amrabat has just joined and should play.