Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On June 18, 2025, the opening round of the FIFA Club World Cup Group G will see Manchester City face off against Morocco's Wydad Casablanca. The match kicks off at 18:00 Central European Time. Let's break down the best bet for team goals in this showdown.
Manchester City
Manchester City enters this tournament as the reigning Club World Cup champions. It was the Citizens who lifted the trophy in 2023, outclassing Brazilian side Fluminense 4-0 in the final. Since then, the competition format has been revamped, making it even bigger and more prestigious—an extra source of motivation for Pep Guardiola's men.
After a less-than-stellar campaign last season, City will be eager to bounce back and underline their title ambitions from the very first whistle. The squad has already been bolstered following the conclusion of the Premier League: creative midfielder Rayan Cherki, versatile midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, and left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri from Wolverhampton have all joined the ranks. Whether these new signings will feature from the start remains to be seen.
In the group stage, City will take on Juventus, Al Ain from the UAE, and Wydad Casablanca. Progressing to the round of 16 should be a mere formality for the world champions, but the real test is likely to come in the knockout rounds.
Wydad Casablanca
Wydad Casablanca missed out on the last Club World Cup, but in 2022 the Moroccan side made it to the quarterfinals, where they faced Al Hilal and lost only in a penalty shootout. That experience marked a significant milestone in the club's history and left fond memories for supporters.
Last season, Wydad finished third in the Moroccan top flight and reached the quarterfinals of the national cup, where they fell to Union Touarga 0-2. The team heads into this tournament with mixed form: just one win from their last four outings, two of which were friendlies—defeats to Sevilla and Porto, both by a 0-1 margin. Notably, Wydad failed to score in any of their losses.
For the Casablanca side, participation in this tournament is primarily about gaining vital international experience. The desire to prove themselves against elite clubs is undeniable, but the big question remains—do they have the quality and cohesion to put up a fight against a team like Manchester City? That answer will come soon enough.
Probable lineups
- Manchester City: Ederson, Nunes, Gvardiol, Akanji, Dias, Gündogan, Silva, Nico González, Doku, Marmoush, Haaland.
- Wydad Casablanca: Benabid, Moufi, Dairani, Boutoil, Moufid, Mubarak, Zemraoui, Mailula, Lorch, Obeng, Rayhi.
Key facts and head-to-head
- Manchester City are unbeaten in 12 of their last 13 matches.
- Wydad Casablanca have lost 3 of their last 4 matches.
- Wydad Casablanca have conceded first in 3 of their last 4 games.
- This is the first ever meeting between these two clubs.
Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca match prediction
All signs point to Manchester City in this one. With a star-studded squad, impressive depth, and a burning desire to make up for last season, the Citizens will be out to make a statement from the opening game. If Guardiola’s side is properly motivated, expect a dominant—possibly even emphatic—victory. This is also a golden opportunity to test new signings in official action and build chemistry for the future. For Wydad, simply being in this tournament is an achievement and a priceless learning experience. But facing the reigning world club champions is a true test of their resilience. It’s hard to see the Moroccan side withstanding City’s onslaught for the full 90 minutes, especially given their recent form. My pick for this match: total goals over 3.5 at odds of 1.89.
