FIFA Club World Cup Day 6 Recap & Preview for Day 7

On Wednesday, as we entered Day 6 of the month-long tournament, we saw some of the biggest clubs participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup take the stage for the first time. Manchester City and RB Salzburg took care of business in Matchday 1 of their respective groups, while Al Hilal held Real Madrid to a surprise draw. Juventus let everyone know they’re here to take things seriously with their 5-0 win over Al Ain.

Day 6 Club World Cup Recap – June 18th

Manchester City 2 – 0 Wydad AC

It didn’t take long for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to find the back of the net in the Club World Cup. Just two minutes into their opening match, Phil Foden pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area after Wydad’s El Mehdi Benabid made a save on a shot from Savinho and left the rebound for City to capitalize on.

Wydad had an opportunity to equalize in the 32nd minute when Thembinkosi Lorch pressured Victor Reis into a mistake at the back. Lorch carried the ball in the penalty area but slipped, trying to cut back on Reis, delaying the attack. Lorch could still flick the ball onto Cassius Mailula, who was joining Lorch in transition, but Ederson was on high alert and came all the way out to the 12-yard dash to deny Mailula’s attempt.

With a 1-0 lead and heading towards half-time, Manchester City would seal all three points from a set-piece opportunity in the 42nd minute. Coming from Benabid’s left-hand side, Phil Foden sent in a left-footed corner towards the back post, which Jérémy Doku met with a flying right foot to send the ball into the back of the net.

Real Madrid 1 – 1 Al-Hilal

Eighteen minutes into this Club World Cup tie, Al-Hilal’s Renan Ladi thought he put his side on top over one of the tournament favorites when captain Salem Al-Dawsari played a creative through ball to put Ladi in on net. Still, his finish was waved off the board due to being offside on the pass.

In the 34th minute, Madrid found the breakthrough when they caught Al-Hilal in transition with numbers. Vincius carried the ball past the center line and laid it off to the right for Valverde. Valverde played it outside once more to Rodrygo, who saw Gonzalo Garcia making a run to the back post and delivered the ball on a platter for him. Gonzalo didn’t hit the ball as clean as he’d like, but Madrid fans won’t care how it hits the net, just that it does.

Madrid’s lead didn’t last long, though. Just five minutes after Gonzalo Garcia’s opener, 22-year-old Raul Acensio pulled down Marcos Leonardo in the penalty area, which gave Al-Hilal an opportunity to equalize from the spot. In the 41st minute, Ruben Neves sent the keeper the wrong way and placed the ball in the top right corner to bring the game level minutes before half-time.

Madrid got a chance to steal all 3 points in the final moments of the game after Al-Hilal’s Mohammed Hamad Al Qahtani was called for committing a penalty. Still, keeper Yassine Bounou, who had already made five stops in the game, denied Madrid’s Frederico Valverde from the penalty spot to end things 1-1.

Pachuca 1 – 2 RB Salzburg

A fun Club World Cup match saw an Austrian side take on one from Mexico. RB Salzburg scored in the 42nd minute when 21-year-old Oscar Grouch beat Pachua’s Carlos Moreno with a right-footed curler from outside the penalty area to give Thomas Letsch’s side a 1-0 lead before half-time.

Pachua equalized in the 56th minute on a set-piece opportunity when Centerback Bryan Gonzalez rifled the free-kick into the near side of the net to bring the game level with just over half an hour to go.

In the 71st minute, RB Salzburg would find the goal to land them all 3 points when substitute Karim Onisiwo headed home a cross from centerback Mads Midsrup that beat Moreno and sealed the victory in Salzburg’s opening match.

Juventus 5 – 0 Al Ain

Another European giant, Juventus, entered the Club World Cup. They scored early and never looked back against Al Ain. Kolo Muani scored the first of his two goals in the 11th minute of the game to give Juventus the early lead. Ten minutes later, Conceicao added to their lead with his first of two goals.

With a firm hold on the game, Yildiz made it 3-0 just 10 minutes after Conceicao’s 1st goal, followed by Kolo Muani’s 2nd goal just before half-time. Conceicao finished Al Ain off in the 58th minute to start the Italian club’s Club World Cup off with a bang.