Manchester City Target Knockout Spot in FIFA Club World Cup Clash with Al Ain
Manchester City continue their campaign in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, aiming for a second consecutive victory that could secure their place in the knockout phase. Standing in their way is Al Ain, an Emirati side hoping to bounce back from a difficult opening match. This fixture, held in Atlanta, marks the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs.
Match Details: When & Where to Watch
Fans looking to catch this Club World Cup encounter will need to note the timing, which spans two days depending on your location:
Location: Atlanta, United States
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Date: Monday, June 23, 2025 (Sunday, June 22, in North America)
Kick-off Times: 2 a.m. BST (June 23) / 9 p.m. ET (June 22) / 6 p.m. PT (June 22)
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
For those wondering how to watch the Man City vs Al Ain match, the tournament is being broadcast globally. Options vary by region:
United Kingdom: DAZN, Channel 5
United States: DAZN, Watch TNT, TNT USA, truTV USA
Canada: DAZN
Mexico: DAZN, tabii
Global Streaming: All matches are scheduled to stream for free globally on DAZN.
The Qualification Picture
Manchester City’s path to the last 16 is straightforward but dependent on one key factor. A win against Al Ain will guarantee progression if Juventus avoids defeat against Wydad Casablanca in their concurrent fixture. If both Manchester City and Juventus secure victories in their second group games, the two European powerhouses would then compete for the top spot in Group G in their final matchday encounter.
City started their tournament with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wydad AC, a match where Phil Foden impressed with both a goal and an assist, recapturing his sparkling form.
Al Ain, conversely, endured a challenging introduction to the tournament, suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat against Juventus. The Emirati side, despite their history as 14-time UAE champions and 2018 Club World Cup runners-up (famously defeating River Plate), struggled significantly against the Serie A giants. This result was reportedly their most emphatic loss in 57 years and has left them with minimal hope of advancing from Group G, needing a near-miracle scenario.
Form Guide
Looking at recent form across all competitions provides further context:
Man City: Comes into the game following their Club World Cup win over Wydad. Their recent Premier League form included wins over Fulham and Bournemouth but also a loss to Crystal Palace and a draw with Southampton in the weeks prior.
Al Ain: Their domestic form before the Club World Cup was strong, including wins and draws, but the crushing 5-0 defeat to Juventus starkly contrasts with their prior seven-match unbeaten run during which they had kept six clean sheets. They will need a dramatic improvement defensively against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Team News & Expected Lineups
Both managers face decisions regarding their squads, though for different reasons.
Manchester City Team News:
Pep Guardiola confirmed that he plans to make significant changes to the side that started against Wydad, potentially rotating up to ten players given the quick turnaround and squad depth.
The only enforced absence for City is right-back Rico Lewis, who received a straight red card for a high boot in the previous match. Matheus Nunes is the most likely candidate to replace him at right-back, though Abdukodir Khusanov and John Stones have also been mentioned as possibilities if needed.
New signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki made their debuts in the opener, and Algerian left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri, an unused substitute last time out, is widely expected to make his first appearance for the club.
Key players who were rested or came off the bench against Wydad, such as Erling Haaland, İlkay Gündoğan, and Rúben Dias, are expected to feature prominently, with Haaland tipped by several sources to score his first Club World Cup goal. Midfielders Rodri (ACL) and John Stones (thigh) are progressing but not yet ready to start, though Rodri did play 30 minutes off the bench previously. Mateo Kovacic is also sidelined with an Achilles issue. Nico Gonzalez is likely to get another opportunity in central midfield.
Given the expected rotation and varying predictions, a single definitive lineup is hard to pinpoint, but City is expected to field a strong side, potentially in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 configuration, featuring a mix of established stars and players getting minutes.
Al Ain Team News:
Al Ain manager Vladimir Ivić reportedly has no new injury or suspension concerns following the heavy loss to Juventus. Despite the result, he is not expected to make drastic changes, likely trusting the same core group of players.
Veteran Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patrício is expected to face another busy night between the posts. Following their struggles against Juventus, Al Ain is anticipated to adopt a highly defensive approach focused on “damage limitation,” likely employing the 5-3-2 formation they used in their opener, featuring five defenders to try and absorb City’s pressure.
Players like on-loan Porto defender Fabio Cardoso could feature in the backline. At the other end, the attacking burden will fall primarily on forwards Kodjo Laba and Soufiane Rahimi. Laba, in particular, is highlighted as Al Ain’s key player and main goal threat, boasting an impressive domestic scoring record. Coach Ivić acknowledged the “shock” of the Juventus defeat, stating his players might not have fully appreciated the European level, but expressed belief in their effort against City.
Man City vs Al Ain Score Prediction
The consensus across previews is clear: Manchester City are overwhelming favourites. Al Ain’s performance against Juventus, where they registered only 0.52 expected goals and conceded five, highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities against top European opposition.
Despite Pep Guardiola’s expected rotation, Manchester City’s squad depth means they can bring in world-class players who were rested in the opener, including potentially Erling Haaland. This added firepower, combined with City’s overall quality and tactical discipline, spells serious trouble for an Al Ain side reeling from their previous result and likely focusing solely on defence.
Predictions range from 3-0 to 4-0 and even 4-1 in favour of Manchester City. While Al Ain may attempt to sit deep and frustrate City, it’s highly probable that City’s attack will find multiple breakthroughs.
Prediction: Manchester City 4–0 Al Ain
