Manchester City
Manchester City Thrashes Wydad AC 5-0 in FIFA Club World Cup Opener.
Philadelphia, USA – Manchester City F.C. kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign in style, dismantling Moroccan side Wydad AC 5-0 in their Group G opener on June 18, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending champions showcased their attacking prowess, with new signings and returning stars making an immediate impact.
Phil Foden opened the scoring just 1 minute and 51 seconds into the match, netting a rebound after Savinho’s shot was parried by Wydad goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid. The early goal set the tone, with Omar Marmoush, Jeremy Doku, and debutant Rayan Cherki adding to the tally. Erling Haaland sealed the rout late on, coming off the bench to score in front of a 61,000-strong crowd.
Pep Guardiola’s side, bolstered by summer signings Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Cherki, dominated possession and created numerous chances. Rodri, returning from an eight-month ACL injury, made a brief cameo, delighting fans. Wydad, led by interim coach Amine Benhachem, struggled to contain Valencia’s attacking line, despite the efforts of veteran Nordin Amrabat and Mohamed Rayhi.
The Moroccan side, who qualified via their 2022 CAF Champions League title, showed flashes of resilience but were outclassed. Their passionate ultras, fans, brought vibrant energy to the stadium, but it wasn’t enough to inspire an upset. Wydad now faces an uphill battle in Group G, with matches against Bayern Munich and Al-Ain looming.
City’s emphatic win sends a strong message to rivals as they aim to retain their Club World Cup crown. Guardiola praised his team’s intensity, stating, “We started seriously, and the first match is crucial in such a short tournament.”
Match Details:
- Date: June 18, 2025
- Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Kick-off: 12:00 PM ET (5:00 PM UK)
- TV/Streaming: DAZN (free globally), Channel 5 (UK)
- Man City XI: Ederson; Lewis, Reis, Ake, O’Reilly; Reijnders; Savinho, Foden, Cherki, Doku; Marmoush
- Wydad XI: Benabid; Moufid, Meijers, Boutouil, Ferreira, Moufi; Mobarik, Zemraoui, Amrabat, Lorch; Mailula
City next face Bayern Munich on June 22, while Wydad look to regroup against Al-Ain. Get latest updates on Scooppunjab.com
