Wydad AC will begin their FIFA Club World Cup journey on Wednesday, facing off against the English football club Manchester City. The match will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Wydad earned their place in this prestigious tournament by being crowned CAF Champions League winners, marking their third title at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Similarly, Manchester City qualified as previous winners of the UEFA Champions League, having claimed their first European title in the 2022/23 season.

Wydad finished third in the Botola Pro 1 league this season, 16 points behind champions RSB Berkane. This poor performance resulted in the departure of their head coach, Rhulani Mokwena, after just one season.

Now under the leadership of Amine Benhachem, the Moroccan club is gearing up to take on City in what promises to be an uphill battle.

“It’s going to be a tough match—there’s no denying that,” Benhachem stated in the lead-up to the game. “But we believe we can compete. We have our style of play, and we’ll give it our best shot.”

Manchester City’s squad for the tournament includes new signings Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli. These additions enhance manager Pep Guardiola’s options, offering both defensive stability and attacking flair.

Having won the last edition of the Club World Cup, City is eager to assert their dominance in the competition’s revamped format.