In pole position to qualify from Group G, Italian heavyweights Juventus could book their place in the Club World Cup’s knockout phase by beating Wydad AC today.
The teams will meet in Philadelphia this weekend, after Juve kicked off their campaign with a five-goal win and their Moroccan counterparts were beaten by Manchester City.
Though, they participated three times in the old Intercontinental Cup – winning the 1985 and 1996 editions – Juventus finally made their debut at FIFA’s Club World Cup on Wednesday, when they started the new-look tournament with a comprehensive success.
The Serie A side – who only qualified as the eighth-best eligible team in UEFA’s four-year rankings – crushed Al-Ain 5-0 in Washington DC, scoring four of their goals in a dominant first half.
Marking the first time since 2018 Juve have hit four before the break, the Turin club were firing on all cylinders: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both bagged a brace, and Kenan Yildiz scored again, while Alberto Costa and Khephren Thuram recorded two assists apiece.
Recently appointed as permanent head coach, following a steady spell as interim manager last season, ex-Juve defender Igor Tudor could hardly have wished for a better start to the Bianconeri’s trip to the United States.
Continuing an unfamiliar Scudetto-less spell, Juventus struggled to convert draws into wins last term – amid yet more off-field turmoil – so Tudor has been tasked with turning the page this summer.
Before facing down group favourites Manchester City next week, his side must target maximum points at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend, with another win surely enough to seal their place in the last 16.
After coming up short in their opening contest against 2023 European champions Man City, Wydad AC are still seeking their first-ever win in the Club World Cup, having recorded one draw and three losses to date.
This edition marks their third appearance, and they earned entry into the expanded tournament via a CAF Champions League triumph three years ago.
The Casablanca club have won a record 22 national titles – most recently topping Morocco’s elite league in 2022 – but making a mark outside of Africa has proven beyond them so far.
While they trailed by two goals at the interval against City and were ultimately unable to reply, Wydad did carve out several chances, doing enough to suggest they can threaten their two remaining Group G opponents.
Another defeat, though, would leave them facing an early exit, with next week’s clash against Al-Ain possibly becoming a dead-rubber playoff for third place.