Man City vs Wydad AC Lineups: Confirmed Starting XI
The revamped FIFA Club World Cup kicked off with a fascinating lineup decision from Pep Guardiola, leaving star striker Erling Haaland on the bench against Wydad AC. The match, played on 18 June 2025, ended 2-0 for Manchester City, but the story was as much about who started as the result itself.
Match Result: Manchester City 2-0 Wydad AC ·
Competition: FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage ·
Date: 18 June 2025
Quick snapshot
- Manchester City won 2-0 (The Guardian)
- Ederson captained City (Manchester City FC)
- Reijnders and Cherki debuted (Manchester City FC)
- Exact minutes of goals (Business Standard)
- Substitutions timeline (ESPN)
- Match events (cards, corners) (The Guardian) (Business Standard)
- 18 June 2025: Match played (Manchester City FC)
- Final score 2-0 (The Guardian)
- Man City’s next group stage match (Manchester City FC)
- Wydad AC’s next fixture (ESPN)
Five facts from the match, one pattern: Manchester City’s experimental lineup kept the ball and created chances, but the real story was the depth of the squad.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Match Result | Manchester City 2-0 Wydad AC |
| Competition | FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage |
| Date | 18 June 2025 |
| Man City Captain | Ederson |
| Man City Formation | 4-3-3 (inferred) |
What are the Man City vs Wydad AC lineups today?
Manchester City starting XI
- Ederson (C), Rico Lewis, Vitor Reis, Nathan Aké, Nico O’Reilly, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Savinho, Jérémy Doku, Omar Marmoush (Manchester City FC)
Wydad AC starting XI
- El Mehdi Benabid, Fahd Moufi, Abdelmounaim Boutouil, Bart Meijers, Guilherme Ferreira, Mohamed Moufid, Thembinkosi Lorch, El Mehdi El Moubarik, Oussama Zemraoui, Nordin Amrabat, Cassius Mailula (ESPN)
Substitutes for both teams
- Man City bench: Stefan Ortega Moreno, Rúben Dias, John Stones, Erling Haaland, Nico González, Rodri, İlkay Gündoğan, Bernardo Silva, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Matheus Nunes, Claudio Echeverri, Abdukodir Khusanov, Oscar Bobb (Manchester City FC)
- Wydad AC bench: El Motie, Aqzdaou, Harkass, Moutarajji, Malsa, Arthur, Aziz Ki, Benktib, Pedrinho, Bennani, Mahtou, Rayhi, Obeng, Fathi, Mwalimu (Manchester City FC)
How to watch Man City vs Wydad AC live?
TV channels broadcasting the match
- The match was broadcast on FIFA+ and certain regional sports networks (Business Standard)
Streaming options
- FIFA+ streamed the match globally (Business Standard)
Kickoff time and timezone
- Kickoff was 18:00 local time at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (The Guardian)
What is the prediction for Man City vs Wydad AC?
Pre-match odds
- Manchester City were heavy favorites, with odds reflecting their status as European champions (The Guardian)
Expert predictions
- Most analysts predicted a comfortable City win, with the only question being the margin (ESPN)
Key factors influencing the outcome
- City’s depth allowed Guardiola to rest key players while still fielding a strong XI (The Guardian)
- Wydad AC’s experience in African competitions gave them a tactical edge, but their squad depth was limited (ESPN)
What are the stats for Man City vs Wydad AC?
Possession and shots
- Manchester City had 65% possession (The Guardian)
- Shots on target: Man City 5, Wydad AC 2 (ESPN)
Pass accuracy
- Detailed pass accuracy not available from match reports, but City’s dominance in possession suggests high passing efficiency (The Guardian)
Discipline (cards)
- No red cards were reported; specific yellow card details are unclear (Business Standard)
Where to watch Man City vs Wydad AC?
Official broadcasters by region
- FIFA+ was the global streaming partner (Business Standard)
- Regional sports networks in the US and UK also carried the match (The Guardian)
Online streaming platforms
- FIFA+ provided free live streaming (Business Standard)
Match highlights availability
- Highlights were available on FIFA+ and the Manchester City YouTube channel shortly after the match (Manchester City FC)
Two lineups, one comparison: the starting XIs reveal contrasting approaches — City’s experimental depth against Wydad’s settled spine.
| Team | Starting XI | Formation | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | Ederson, Lewis, Reis, Ake, O’Reilly, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Savinho, Doku, Marmoush | 4-3-3 (inferred) | Ederson |
| Wydad AC | Benabid, Moufi, Boutouil, Guilherme, Meijers, Moufid, Zemraoui, El Moubarik, Lorch, Amrabat, Mailula | 4-2-3-1 (inferred) | Not reported |
| Key Absentees | Haaland, Rodri, Gundogan (on bench) | N/A | N/A |
Guardiola’s decision to leave £150m worth of attacking talent on the bench shows the depth of City’s squad. For Wydad, facing a rotated City side still meant a 2-0 deficit – highlighting the gap between European and African club football.
Timeline: 18 June 2025
- 18 June 2025: Match played; final score Manchester City 2-0 Wydad AC (Manchester City FC)
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Manchester City won 2-0 (The Guardian)
- Ederson started as captain (Manchester City FC)
- Lineup as per official club release (Manchester City FC)
What’s unclear
- Exact minutes of goals (Business Standard)
- Substitutions timeline (ESPN)
- Match events (cards, corners) (The Guardian)
The clarity check confirms that while the match result is well-documented, some details remain unconfirmed in available match reports.
Quotes from the match
Official Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca starting lineups.
Gary Africa, Facebook post (Facebook)
Manchester City name Ederson, Rico Lewis, Vitor Reis, Nathan Aké, Nico O’Reilly, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Savinho, Jérémy Doku, and Omar Marmoush in the starting XI.
Manchester City FC (Manchester City FC)
Forward stake: Man City’s next group match will test whether the experimental lineup can repeat its controlled performance, while Wydad must regroup quickly to keep their knockout hopes alive. For the neutral, the expanded Club World Cup has already delivered a story of squad depth versus African resilience.
sports.yahoo.com, sportingnews.com, si.com, onefootball.com, sportsmole.co.uk, besoccer.com, 365scores.com, besoccer.com
Frequently asked questions
Is Man City vs Wydad AC a friendly match?
No, it was a competitive group stage match in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Which competition is this match part of?
The FIFA Club World Cup, the 2025 edition featuring 32 teams.
Who scored for Manchester City?
Exact goalscorers were not confirmed in the available sources, but the final score was 2-0.
What was the attendance?
Attendance figures were not reported in the available match reports.
How many substitutes did Man City use?
Substitution details are unclear; the full bench list is known but not the timing.
What formation did Wydad AC use?
Inferred as 4-2-3-1 based on the starting XI.
Did any player receive a red card?
No red cards were reported.
What is the next match for both teams?
Manchester City continue their group stage schedule; Wydad AC face another group opponent. Specifics were not detailed in the available sources.
The match sets the stage for an intriguing group stage in the expanded Club World Cup.
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