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PHILADELPHIA: Manchester City began their Club World Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in their Group G opener on Wednesday, courtesy of first-half goals from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku.

Manager Pep Guardiola opted to start with several key players on the bench, including Erling Haaland, Rodri, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones for what was a sweltering midday kickoff at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

Despite fielding a second-string side, City needed less than two minutes to break the deadlock.

Phil Foden pounced after Savinho’s cross was parried by Wydad goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid, with the England midfielder striking a first-time effort into the net to hand City an early lead.

City doubled their advantage three minutes before halftime when Foden delivered a pinpoint corner and Jeremy Doku caught the Wydad defense napping to volley home at the far post.

City finished with 10 men after Rico Lewis was given a straight red card for a nasty studs-up sliding tackle on Samuel Obeng in the 88th minute.

Wydad, undeterred after conceding the early goal, showed resilience and threatened on the counter-attack and forward Cassius Mailula nearly equalized with an audacious lob from midfield in the 15th minute.

Moments later, Mohamed Moufid set up Thembinkosi Lorch with a low cross, but the South African forward just failed to get there in time with a sliding effort.

City also had chances to extend their lead before halftime. Omar Marmoush saw his strike from the edge of the box sail just wide, while Nathan Ake’s towering header from a corner went inches over the bar.

At the other end, Wydad squandered a golden opportunity in the 30th minute when Vitor Reis’s misplaced pass gifted the ball to Lorch, only for Mailula’s follow-up shot to be smothered by City keeper Ederson.

After City doubled their lead before the break, the second half saw a dramatic drop in tempo under the scorching midday sun, though City went close to adding a third through Rayan Cherki.

The 21-year-old, signed from Olympique Lyonnais for 40 million euros ($46.06 million) ahead
of the tournament, unleashed a shot from the edge of the area, only for Benabid to produce a fine save.

The Moroccan keeper later denied substitute Haaland with a reflex save in a one-on-one.

City will now turn their attention to Sunday’s clash with United Arab Emirates side Al Ain, while Wydad face Juventus in their next Group G encounter.

ABU DHABI: Al-Ain defender Khalid Al-Hashemi says it will be a privilege for the club’s players to take to the field at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Juventus in their opening fixture.

Al-Ain begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against the Italian giants in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, June 18 (4 a.m. KSA on June 19) before further Group G matches vs. Manchester City and Wydad.

Al-Hashemi, who starred in both legs of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League final and is a UAE national team defender, says Al-Ain are relishing the opportunity to test themselves at the highest level.

“Preparations are going well here in the US with the coach and the technical staff,” said the 28-year-old center-back, who wears No.16 for Al-Ain. “The opportunity to play against Juve and against City in particular is a big opportunity to learn and see how our levels are now, and if we can reach their levels and compete. We will do our best in our training sessions before the games and hopefully we can get good results.

“Our hopes are really high,” Al-Hashemi added. “We all know that we have pressure, but we want to represent Al-Ain and the UAE in the best way possible. We want to get results and show that Al-Ain are not just here (to make up the numbers) — we want to compete, we want to fight for the badge, for the flag and the country.”

The club enters the new competition with significant backing from XRG, the official sponsor of Al-Ain’s training kit during the FIFA Club World Cup, and through to the end of the upcoming season; as well as ADNOC, who will be the official sponsor of club’s first team jerseys during local matches throughout the upcoming season.

Al-Hashemi believes this backing is indicative of the support from across the UAE as Al-Ain seek to make the nation proud on the biggest global stage in club football.

“We are very privileged to have this partnership with XRG and ADNOC,” says Al-Hashemi. “Al-Ain is honored and I think both parties are very happy with this partnership. Hopefully we represent our club, the company and our country on the biggest stage in a good way and get good results. We are very honored and very proud to be at the biggest club competition in world football.”

Al-Ain secured their place at this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2023-24 AFC Champions League, defeating Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos 6-3 over two legs in the final.

Following their opening FIFA Club World Cup match against Serie A giants Juventus, Al-Ain travel to Atlanta to play eight-time Premier League winners Manchester City, before concluding their group stage fixtures against Wydad from Morocco in Washington, D.C. on June 26.

Al-Hashemi, who was born in Abu Dhabi, says one of his big hopes from Al-Ain taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup is that it will inspire the next generation of Emirati footballers. The competition, the first under an expanded format, runs from June 14 to July 13 in the US, and features 32 top teams from across world football.

“I imagine that when we play in the FIFA Club World Cup, the young generation will see this and say ‘one day I want to play in this competition, the biggest competition in the world’,” said AI-Hashemi. “Imagine how that will impact the young generation and give them hope and inspiration to play for a club and the national team. Hopefully, as a group and individually, we inspire the young generation to come back here to this tournament.”