Match stats

Logo Manchester City Logo Wydad Casablanca
68 Ball possession (%) 32
15 Goal attempts 12
6 Shots on Goal 2
7 Shots off Goal 5
2 Blocked shots 5

Manchester City vs Wydad: prediction & betting odds 18 June 2025

The Matchday 1 encounter of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup between Manchester City (England) and Wydad (Morocco) will take place on June 18 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia (USA). Manchester City vs. Wydad: prediction and betting odds, statistics.

Manchester City

The Citizens are among the 12 European representatives at the Club World Cup. The team was invited to this tournament as the winners of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League, after which they made their debut at the world club championship. The English side comfortably and confidently won the trophy, having played two matches in the tournament and consecutively defeating Urawa Red Diamonds (3-0) and Fluminense (4-0). Last season, the Mancunians finished with impressive stats – just one defeat in their last 13 official matches (9 wins and 3 draws).

Of all the teams participating in the Club World Cup, Manchester City has the second most valuable squad, trailing only Real Madrid. The club has strengthened with the additions of winger Rayan Cherki, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, and defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.

  • In their last seven matches in the UEFA Champions League, the Citizens have secured only one victory in regular time (1 draw and 5 losses).
  • Both teams scored in 6 of Manchester City's last 7 games in Europe's premier competition.
  • At least four goals were scored in regular time in 8 of the last 9 encounters for the Mancunians in the UEFA Champions League.

Predicted lineup for Manchester City (4-2-3-1)

Ederson – Mateus Nunes, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias – Ilkay Gundogan, Nico Gonzalez – Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush – Erling Haaland.

Midfielder Mateo Kovacic will miss the Club World Cup due to an Achilles injury. His colleague Kevin De Bruyne has opted out of the tournament as he is set to join another club in July.

Wydad

The Moroccan side is participating in this tournament as the winners of the 2021/22 CAF Champions League. The team will be playing in the Club World Cup for the third time. In the previous two tournaments (2017 and 2022), Wydad played a total of three matches and did not secure a single victory in regular time (2 draws and 1 loss). The team approaches the current Club World Cup in good form, having suffered just one defeat in their last seven official matches (4 wins and 2 draws).

The club's head coach Rulani Mokwena resigned four weeks before the start of the Club World Cup. Mohamed Amin Benhachem has been appointed in his place.

  • At least one team failed to score in regular time in Wydad's last seven CAF Champions League games.
  • No more than two goals were scored in regular time in the club's last six matches in the African Champions League.
  • The Moroccans did not win in regular time in 8 of their last 12 matches in the CAF Champions League (4 draws and 4 losses).

Predicted lineup for Wydad (4-3-3)

Mehdi Benabid – Mohamed Mufid, Abdelmounaim Boutouil, Ayman Dari, Fahd Moufi – Cassius Mailula, Mehdi El Moubarki, Oussama Zemraoui – Thembinkosi Lorch, Samuel Obeng, Ismail Benktib.

Defender Ayoub Boushita will miss the match due to injury.

Referee

Ramon Abatti (Brazil)

Matches – 5 (International matches, 2024–2025);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 20;

Average yellow cards per match – 4;

Red cards shown – 1;

Average fouls per match – 23;

Penalties – 20%.

Match Prediction: Manchester City vs. Wydad

Judging by the three recent transfers that took place in early June, Pep Guardiola is once again aiming to win the Club World Cup trophy. Even without these additions, the Mancunians were considered among the main contenders for the tournament victory, as Manchester City is one of the strongest clubs not only in England but also in Europe. The Moroccans will have a tough time against such an opponent, as they are noticeably weaker in terms of player selection and have lost to much more modest teams like Al Hilal, Pachuca, and Urawa Red Diamonds in their previous Club World Cup appearances.

Manchester City has played in this tournament only once before and easily handled their opponents, winning both matches by a large margin. It is highly likely that the English side will start this Club World Cup with a resounding victory, as they are in good form, and almost all their players are fit. High scoring is expected, especially from Erling Haaland, who scored 22 goals in the last Premier League season and has found the net in his last three matches for club and country.

My prediction – Manchester City with a handicap (-2.5)

Betting tips 18 June 2025

An updated Manchester City side featuring Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders will begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against group outsiders Wydad Athletic Club. With Erling Haaland leading the line, they are determined to bounce back from a disappointing season and kick off the tournament with a commanding victory.

Manchester City qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup as winners of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League. A year ago, the squad lifted the trophy in impressive fashion, beating Urawa Red Diamonds (3:0) and Fluminense FC (4:0). Once again, they are among the favourites to win the title. Over the summer, Manchester City were bolstered by the arrivals of Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Ait-Nouri, and they ended last season with just one loss in their final 13 matches. The core of the squad remains intact, Rodrigo Hernández is back in midfield, and Erling Haaland continues to lead the attack.

Wydad Athletic Club earned their spot in the tournament by winning the 2021/22 CAF Champions League. However, they failed to win a single match in their previous two FIFA Club World Cup appearances. The team recently appointed a new head coach and suffered defeats in friendlies against FC Porto, Sevilla FC, and also lost to Union Touarga in the domestic league. Wydad Athletic Club have struggled in attack, scoring just twice in their last four matches, and have conceded in every one of those games.

Wydad Athletic Club's performances in the run-up to the tournament have been underwhelming, and with a squad that lacks depth and international quality, they are unlikely to pose a real threat. Manchester City are widely expected to start their campaign with a decisive win by a margin of at least three goals.

Betting prediction
Manchester City (-2.5)
Cf
Odds
59/100
Bet now

Manchester City vs Wydad Odds

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FIFA Club World Cup: previous matches in the tournament

Manchester City
The team hasn't played a game yet this season
Wydad
The team hasn't played a game yet this season

Group stage

FIFA Club World Cup: Group G
Team
Played
Matches played
W
D
L
Goals
Goals
Points
Points
1
Manchester City
  -:- 6:0 2:0 3 3 0 0
13:2
9
2
Juventus
2:5   -:- 4:1 3 2 0 1
11:6
6
3
Al Ain
-:- 0:5   -:- 3 1 0 2
2:12
3
4
Wydad
-:- -:- 1:2   3 0 0 3
2:8
0

Team lineups

Manchester City

Josep Guardiola i Sala
coach
Player Matches Goals
Line-up
Ederson
gk. 0 0
Nathan Aké
df. 0 0
Rico Henry Mark Lewis
df. 0 0
Vitor de Oliveira Nunes dos Reis
df. 0 0
Mathis Rayan Cherki
mf. 0 0
Nico O'Reilly
mf. 0 0
Phil Foden
mf. 0 0
Tijani Reijnders
mf. 0 0
Jérémy Doku
fw. 0 0
Omar Khaled Mohamed Abd Elsala Marmoush
fw. 0 0
Sávio Moreira de Oliveira
fw. 0 0
Substitutes
Stefan Ortega Moreno
gk. 0 0
Abdukodir Khusanov
df. 0 0
John Stones
df. 0 0
Joško Gvardiol
df. 0 0
Manuel Akanji
df. 0 0
Rayan Aït-Nouri
df. 0 0
Rúben Dias
df. 0 0
Bernardo Silva
mf. 0 0
Claudio Candelmo Jeremías Echeverri
mf. 0 0
Matheus Nunes
mf. 0 0
Nicolás González Iglesias
mf. 0 0
Oscar Bobb
mf. 0 0
Rodrigo Hernández
mf. 0 0
İlkay Gündoğan
mf. 0 0
Erling Braut Håland
fw. 0 0
Wydad

Mohamed Amine Benhachem
coach
Player Matches Goals
Line-up
El Mehdi Benabid
gk. 0 0
Abdelmounaim Boutouil
df. 0 0
Bart Adrianus Johannes Meijers
df. 0 0
Fahd Moufi
df. 0 0
Mohamed Moufid
df. 0 0
El Mehdi El Moubarik
mf. 0 0
Oussama Zemraoui
mf. 0 0
Thembinkosi Lorch
mf. 0 0
Cassius Tumelo Mailula
fw. 0 0
Noureddine Amrabat
fw. 0 0
Substitutes
Omar Aqzdaou
gk. 0 0
Youssef El Motie
gk. 0 0
Jamal Harkass
df. 0 0
Arthur Wenderrosky Sanches
mf. 0 0
Ismail Moutaraji
mf. 0 0
Mickaël Ramon Vincent Malsa
mf. 0 0
Pedro Henrique de Assis
mf. 0 0
Abdallah Selemani Mwalimu
fw. 0 0
Mohamed Rayhi
fw. 0 0
Samuel Obeng Gyabaa
fw. 0 0
Stéphane Aziz Ki
fw. 0 0
Zakaria Fathi
fw. 0 0

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Andy H
Andy H
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