This Group G encounter at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played between the 2023/24 AFC Champions League winners, Al Ain, and Italian giants Juventus on June 19 at Audi Field, Washington, DC.
Here are our preview and prediction for the game.
Emirati heavyweights Al Ain have already made two appearances at the Club World Cup in its previous guise (now the FIFA Intercontinental Cup). Their best finish at the CWC came back in 2018, when they knocked out Team Wellington, ES Tunis, and River Plate on their way to the final, where they were eventually outclassed 4–1 by Real Madrid.
Despite qualifying as winners of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League, things have been far from ideal for Al Ain ever since they parted ways with former boss Hernán Crespo. They spectacularly failed in their defence of the Asian title last season and were a long way off from winning their domestic crown, finishing fifth. Current coach Vladimir Ivic can still choose from a relatively strong squad, but the 14-time UAE Pro League champions are clear outsiders in Group G.
Their final Group G fixture against Wydad represents their best chance of picking up points, though they will still dream of upsetting one of either Manchester City or Juventus.
As far as Juventus are concerned, they participated three times in the old Intercontinental Cup, winning the 1985 and 1996 editions. However, this will be their first appearance at the Club World Cup. The Old Lady qualified as the eighth-best team in UEFA’s four-year rankings, joining compatriots Inter Milan in this summer’s tournament.
Champions of the Italian top flight for nine straight years prior to the start of their downfall, Juve have failed to claim the top spot in Serie A since 2020 and barely scraped into fourth place last term following yet another season of turmoil. The two-time European champions faced an early exit from the UEFA Champions League. Equalling a club record, Juve drew 20 games across all competitions, which initially looked promising under Thiago Motta, but he was was ultimately sacked before completing his first season at the Allianz Stadium.
Having been hired to replace Motta in March, Igor Tudor — a former Juve defender and assistant coach — has since extended his contract, after the crisis-hit club board failed to secure the signature of either Antonio Conte or Gian Piero Gasperini.
And so, Tudor leads the Bianconeri into this new-look Club World Cup, with Thursday’s opener becoming a must-win encounter for all the aforementioned reasons. They then face Wydad in Philadelphia, before a showdown against group favourites Man City.
Looking ahead to this fixture, for all their flaws, Juve did keep 17 clean sheets last season and should be able to keep Al Ain’s lively attack at arm’s length and score at least once to register their first win in the tournament.
Score Prediction: Al Ain 0–2 Juventus
Venue: Audi Field, Washington DC
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