Introduction

The moment fans had been waiting for finally arrived. The confirmed Man City vs Wydad AC lineups for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group G opener dropped on June 18, and they were full of surprises. Pep Guardiola handed two brand-new signings their full debuts right from the start, and the football world took notice. If you want to know exactly who started, who was left on the bench, and what these choices mean for Manchester City’s tournament hopes, you are in the right place.

This article breaks down every detail of the Man City vs Wydad AC lineups, analyses the key tactical decisions Guardiola made, examines the Wydad AC setup, and explains why this match mattered far beyond the final scoreline. Whether you are a die-hard City fan or just a curious football follower, you will find everything you need right here.

The Confirmed Man City vs Wydad AC Lineups at a Glance

Before we dig into the details, here are the full confirmed starting elevens and substitutes for the match at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Manchester City Starting XI (4-1-4-1)

• Ederson (GK, Captain)
• Rico Lewis (RB)
• Vitor Reis (CB)
• Nathan Ake (CB)
• Nico O’Reilly (LB)
• Tijjani Reijnders (DM) [DEBUT]
• Savinho (RM)
• Rayan Cherki (CM) [DEBUT]
• Phil Foden (CM)
• Jeremy Doku (LM)
• Omar Marmoush (ST)

Substitutes: Ortega, Dias, Stones, Haaland, Gonzalez, Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Gvardiol, Akanji, Nunes, Echeverri, Khusanov, Bobb

Wydad AC Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

• Benabid (GK)
• Bart Meijers (RB)
• Moufid (CB)
• Boutouil (CB)
• Moufi (LB)
• Ferreira (CM)
• El Moubarik (CM)
• Zemraoui (AM)
• Nordin Amrabat (Captain, RW) [DEBUT]
• Mailula (LW)
• Lorch (SS)

Substitutes: El Motie, Aqzdaou, Harkass, Moutarajji, Malsa, Arthur, Aziz Ki, Benktib, Pedrinho, Bennani, Mahtou, Rayhi, Obeng, Fathi, Mwalimu

Why the Man City vs Wydad AC Lineups Surprised Everyone

Pep Guardiola rarely does the predictable. But the Man City vs Wydad AC lineups he selected still turned heads. Nobody expected both Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders to start immediately. These were brand-new signings who had barely trained with the squad. Guardiola chose to throw them straight into competitive action.

It was a bold decision and a clear message. Guardiola wanted to see how his new players performed under real pressure from day one. He trusted them with a starting role in a tournament that carries global prestige and serious prize money.

Cherki and Reijnders: Instant Trust from Guardiola

Rayan Cherki joined from Lyon, and Tijjani Reijnders arrived from AC Milan. Both players are creative, technically gifted, and built for Guardiola’s possession-based system. Reijnders took the defensive midfield role he knows so well from his Milan and Dutch national team experience. Cherki slotted into the more advanced central position alongside Phil Foden.

These two players were not just given minutes. They were handed the midfield engine room of one of the world’s biggest clubs. That tells you everything about how highly Guardiola rates them.

Big Names Left on the Bench

The substitute list reads like a dream team. Erling Haaland, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol, and Rayan Ait-Nouri all started the match on the bench. Guardiola rotated heavily, choosing to give opportunities to the younger and newer players while keeping his proven stars fresh for tougher games ahead against Al Ain and Juventus.

This was a strategic decision. Guardiola clearly viewed the Wydad AC match as an opportunity to experiment and build fitness. He kept his biggest weapons in reserve while still fielding a more than capable starting eleven.

Breaking Down Manchester City’s Tactical Setup

City lined up in their familiar 4-1-4-1 shape, but with some fresh faces making it feel like a transitional moment for the club. Here is how the system worked.

Defence: A New-Look Back Four

Ederson started in goal as expected and wore the captain’s armband. In front of him, Guardiola chose Vitor Reis and Nathan Ake as the central defensive partnership. Reis rarely starts, so this was a chance for the young Brazilian to prove his worth.

Rico Lewis started at right back, with Nico O’Reilly taking the left back slot. New signing Rayan Ait-Nouri, brought in as a left-back option, had to settle for a place on the bench to begin with. This shows that Guardiola wanted to ease his signings in carefully, except of course for Cherki and Reijnders, who he trusted immediately.

Midfield: A Creative and Energetic Engine

Reijnders anchored the midfield in a holding role. Ahead of him, Foden, Cherki, and Doku offered creativity and movement. This is a midfield packed with technical quality and running capacity. Savinho provided width on the right, giving City the ability to stretch the opposition and create overloads.

Phil Foden, a player who spent most of last season in poor form, looked motivated to rebuild his status in this new-look City side. His partnership with the debuting Cherki is one of the most exciting to watch across the entire tournament.

Attack: Marmoush Leads the Line

Omar Marmoush started as the lone striker. He is a dynamic forward who works hard off the ball and can finish clinical chances. With Haaland on the bench, Marmoush had a point to prove. He responded well and kept Wydad’s defence busy throughout the first half.

Wydad AC Lineup Explained: Africa’s Underdogs Arrive

The Wydad AC side that took to the field in Philadelphia carried the hopes of African football on its shoulders. The Man City vs Wydad AC lineups comparison showed a clear gap in squad depth, but Wydad brought quality of their own.

Nordin Amrabat Leads as Captain

The 38-year-old winger Nordin Amrabat made a remarkable return to professional football. After ending his spell with Hull City, the brother of former Manchester United loanee Sofyan Amrabat joined Wydad last month and was named captain for his debut. It was an emotional and symbolic moment.

Amrabat’s experience and leadership gave Wydad a calming presence. He is not the explosive winger he was a decade ago, but his reading of the game and ability to connect play made him a smart choice as captain.

Bart Meijers: A New Face in Defence

Fellow new recruit Bart Meijers started at right back. He brings defensive solidity and is comfortable with the ball, which suits Wydad’s style of building from the back. Meijers was one of several new additions to the squad that Wydad brought in ahead of this tournament.

Mohamed Rayhi Stays on the Bench

Wydad’s top scorer from last season, Mohamed Rayhi, who netted 11 league goals, started on the bench. Coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem chose to start with a more structured setup and use Rayhi as an impact substitute later in the game. It was a cautious but understandable decision given the quality of the opposition.

Key Battles to Watch in the Man City vs Wydad AC Lineups

The Man City vs Wydad AC lineups set up several fascinating individual matchups across the pitch. Here are the battles that shaped the game.

Tijjani Reijnders vs Wydad’s Midfield Pair

Reijnders faced Ferreira and El Moubarik in the centre of the park. He won that battle convincingly. His positional sense, short passing, and ability to break up play early gave City control of the midfield from the opening minutes.

Rayan Cherki vs Zemraoui

Cherki and Zemraoui both operate in the number ten areas for their respective sides. Cherki’s directness and ability to play between the lines gave Wydad’s midfield a constant problem. Zemraoui tried to match City’s intensity but found it difficult to get on the ball consistently.

Savinho and Doku vs Wydad’s Full Backs

Wydad’s full backs, Meijers and Moufi, faced constant pressure from City’s wide players. Savinho’s pace on the right and Doku’s unpredictable dribbling on the left caused problems throughout the match. Wydad struggled to contain both simultaneously.

Why the Man City vs Wydad AC Lineups Matter for the Tournament

These Man City vs Wydad AC lineups told us a great deal about what both managers prioritize at the start of a major tournament. For Guardiola, the message was clear: new signings will get their chance, squad rotation is real, and depth is a weapon.

For Wydad’s coach Benhachem, fielding a disciplined structure against a heavily favoured City team showed that Wydad came to compete. They did not park the bus. They tried to play their own game, which takes courage at a tournament of this size.

City’s Depth Is Their Greatest Asset

Look at the City bench again. Haaland. Rodri. Bernardo Silva. Gvardiol. These are world-class players sitting out a competitive match. No other club in Group G can match that level of depth. The Man City vs Wydad AC lineups make it clear that City are serious title contenders, even when not playing their strongest eleven.

Wydad’s Challenge Going Forward

Wydad face a tough group with Al Ain and Sevilla also in the mix. After this result, they needed to regroup and draw confidence from their individual moments against City. Amrabat’s leadership and Rayhi’s potential impact from the bench give them options to work with.

What We Learned About Man City’s New Signings

One of the biggest talking points from the Man City vs Wydad AC lineups was what the new signings showed on the pitch. Here is the verdict.

Tijjani Reijnders: Confident and Composed

Reijnders looked completely at home in City’s system. He rarely wasted possession, pressed intelligently, and showed the composure you would expect from an AC Milan player. His debut was a success by any measure. City fans have every reason to be excited.

Rayan Cherki: Exciting and Energetic

Cherki showed the flair and creativity that made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents at Lyon. He linked well with Foden and Marmoush and looked sharp in tight spaces. A few of his passes were ambitious, but that is exactly the kind of directness City needed after a below-par league season.

Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly: Holding Their Own

Both full-backs showed they can handle the pressure of big tournament football. Lewis and O’Reilly gave City width and stability. They communicated well with the midfield and defended solidly when Wydad pushed forward. Late on, Rico Lewis received a red card, which will be a concern for future games, but his performance before that was solid.

The Context Behind the Man City vs Wydad AC Match

This was not just any group stage game. It was Manchester City’s first competitive match of the 2025/26 season after a difficult 2024/25 campaign, where they finished the Premier League season without a title and missed out on the Champions League. The Club World Cup represented a fresh start.

Wydad AC, on the other hand, came in as the tournament’s African representative. They qualified by winning the CAF Champions League in 2022 but have since dropped in form, finishing third in the Moroccan league in 2024/25. Off-field instability also hurt their preparations.

Heading into the match, City carried an 87 percent win probability according to most forecasters. The Man City vs Wydad AC lineups reflected that confidence gap, but also showed Guardiola’s respect for every opponent by fielding a genuinely competitive and motivated starting eleven.

Final Thoughts on the Man City vs Wydad AC Lineups

The Man City vs Wydad AC lineups gave us one of the most interesting team sheet reveals of the 2025 Club World Cup. Guardiola delivered two debut starts that excited the football world, while Wydad showed character in naming a structured and motivated eleven of their own.

Here are the key takeaways you should walk away with:

• Cherki and Reijnders both started immediately, showing Guardiola’s trust in his new signings
• Haaland, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva all began as substitutes, highlighting City’s incredible squad depth
• Vydad named Nordin Amrabat as captain for his debut, a symbolic and inspiring choice
• Rayhi, Wydad’s top scorer, was kept on the bench as a tactical option
• Rico Lewis was sent off late, which could affect City’s future squad planning for this tournament

City showed exactly why they are the tournament favourites. But Wydad showed heart and ambition. That combination made this opener well worth watching.

What did you think of the lineup choices? Did Guardiola get it right by starting both debutants? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out our full Club World Cup 2025 coverage for every key team selection and match breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What were the confirmed Man City vs Wydad AC lineups?

Manchester City lined up in a 4-1-4-1 with Ederson in goal, a back four of Lewis, Reis, Ake, and O’Reilly, Reijnders as the holding midfielder, and Savinho, Cherki, Foden, and Doku in midfield, with Marmoush as the striker. Wydad AC set up in a 4-2-3-1 led by captain Nordin Amrabat.

2. Did Erling Haaland start the Man City vs Wydad AC match?

No. Haaland was named on the substitute bench. Guardiola chose Omar Marmoush as the starting striker and kept Haaland fresh for later in the tournament.

3. Who made their Man City debut in the Wydad AC match?

Both Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders made their full Manchester City debuts against Wydad AC. Reijnders joined from AC Milan and Cherki came from Lyon.

4. Who was Wydad’s captain against Man City?

Nordin Amrabat captained Wydad AC on his debut for the club. The 38-year-old winger signed for Wydad after leaving Hull City and was handed the armband immediately.

5. Where was the Man City vs Wydad AC match played?

The match took place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, on June 18, 2025. It was part of the FIFA Club World Cup Group G stage.

6. Was Rodri in the Man City vs Wydad AC lineup?

Rodri was not in the starting eleven. He was named as a substitute, with Guardiola choosing to ease him back into action gradually after his return from injury.

7. What formation did Man City use against Wydad AC?

Manchester City used a 4-1-4-1 formation with Reijnders as the holding midfielder and a fluid creative unit of Savinho, Foden, Cherki, and Doku behind the striker.

8. What formation did Wydad AC use against Man City?

Wydad AC lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape with two holding midfielders protecting the defence and Amrabat operating in the advanced right wing position.

9. What was the result of Man City vs Wydad AC?

Manchester City won the match comfortably. Rico Lewis was sent off late in the game, but City had already established a commanding lead before his dismissal.

10. Who was Wydad AC’s top scorer, and did he play?

Mohamed Rayhi was Wydad’s top scorer in the league with 11 goals. He started on the bench and was not part of the opening eleven for the Wydad AC vs Man City match.

Also Read In Fitenvironment.fr
Email: johanharwen314@gmail.com
Author Name: Johan Harwen

About the Author: John Harwen is a seasoned football journalist and content strategist with over a decade of experience covering elite club football, international tournaments, and transfer markets. He has followed Manchester City closely since the Pep Guardiola era began and brings sharp tactical analysis alongside accessible writing that speaks to both hardcore fans and casual readers. John’s work has appeared across leading sports media platforms, and he has a particular passion for breaking down lineup decisions, matchday tactics, and the stories behind the squad selections that shape big games. When he is not writing about football, he is probably watching it.