Man City vs Wydad AC Lineups: Starting XI June 18, 2025
When the Club World Cup throws Manchester City against Wydad AC, the first thing fans want is the lineup sheet. With Erling Haaland on the bench and a few new faces in the starting XI, this match on 18 June 2025 had plenty of talking points before kick-off.
Match Date: 18 June 2025 ·
Competition: FIFA Club World Cup ·
Venue: Unspecified ·
Man City Formation: 4-1-4-1 ·
Wydad Formation: TBD
Quick snapshot
- Manchester City beat Wydad AC 2-0 (ESPN match report)
- Man City lineup: Ederson; Lewis, Reis, Aké, O’Reilly; Reijnders; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Savinho, Marmoush (Manchester City FC official team news)
- Exact venue for the match not yet specified
- Haaland’s fitness status — no official statement from club medical staff
- Match day: 18 June 2025 (ESPN match report)
- Lineups confirmed just before kick-off via official sources (Manchester City FC official team news)
- Man City progress in Club World Cup; next opponent to be determined
- Haaland’s role in upcoming matches depends on recovery
Six facts about the match, one pattern: the starting XI featured debutants and a star-studded bench, while crowd favourite Haaland remained an unused substitute. The table below lines up the two sides for a direct comparison.
| Position | Manchester City | Wydad AC |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Ederson (C) | Benabid |
| Defenders | Lewis, Reis, Aké, O’Reilly | Moufid, Boutouil, Moufi, Meijers, Ferreira |
| Midfielders | Reijnders, Foden, Cherki | El Moubarik, Zemraoui |
| Forwards | Doku, Savinho, Marmoush | Lorch, Amrabat, Mailula |
The key facts table below summarises the match details.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Match Date | 18 June 2025 |
| Competition | FIFA Club World Cup |
| Venue | Unspecified |
| Man City Formation | 4-1-4-1 |
| Wydad Formation | TBD |
| Referee | TBD |
What is the starting lineup for Man City?
Confirmed Man City XI
- Goalkeeper: Ederson (C) — Manchester City FC (official team news)
- Defenders: Rico Lewis, Vitor Reis, Nathan Aké, Nico O’Reilly — Sports Mole (confirmed XI)
- Midfielders: Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki — Sky Sports (team page)
- Forwards: Jérémy Doku, Savinho, Omar Marmoush — Transfermarkt (match report)
Pep Guardiola trusted a front four that combined youthful energy (Cherki, Reijnders) with proven creators (Foden, Doku). The 4-1-4-1 shape allowed fluid interchanges, but the absence of a traditional number nine raised eyebrows.
The implication: Guardiola’s tactical gamble paid off with a 2-0 win, but the lack of a natural striker may become a liability against deeper defences.
Wydad AC lineup
- Starting XI: Benabid; Moufid, Boutouil, Moufi, Meijers, Ferreira; El Moubarik, Zemraoui; Lorch, Amrabat, Mailula — Manchester City FC (official team news)
- Formation: 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 (not yet confirmed)
The pattern: Wydad’s lineup featured experienced internationals like Amrabat and Lorch, but lacked the depth to match City’s full-strength squad.
Key substitutions
- Man City bench included Haaland, Rodri, Gündogan, Bernardo Silva, Ait-Nouri, Gvardiol, Akanji, Nunes, Echeverri, Khusanov, Bobb — Sports Mole (bench list)
- Haaland did not enter the match — Sky Sports (team page)
With Haaland, Rodri, and Gündogan all on the bench, City showed they could control the game without their superstar striker. The depth of the squad is a luxury that most opponents can’t match.
The catch: resting key players in a group-stage match is a calculated risk — if City had stumbled, the narrative would have been very different.
Why is Foden not playing for Man City?
Foden’s role in the match
Phil Foden started for Manchester City against Wydad AC, according to Manchester City FC (official team news). The question may stem from earlier matches where he was rested, but in this fixture he played in an advanced midfield role behind the front three.
Injury or tactical decision?
There is no evidence of injury or absence for this game. Sporting News (preview) also projected Foden in a starting role. The confusion likely arose because pre-match speculation placed Haaland ahead of Foden in some predicted lineups.
What this means: fans searching for an explanation were misled by conflicting pre-match rumours, not by any actual change in Foden’s status.
Will Haaland play tomorrow?
Haaland’s injury status
Erling Haaland was listed among Manchester City’s substitutes, not in the starting XI, for the Wydad AC match — Manchester City FC (official team news). He did not enter the game, as confirmed by Sky Sports (team page) and ESPN (match report).
Confirmed lineup
Haaland’s absence from the starting XI means he was deemed not fit enough to start, or the manager chose to rest him. Transfermarkt (match report) also records Haaland in the matchday squad but not on the pitch. No official statement from the club explains why.
Haaland has a history of muscular issues. The decision to keep him on the bench suggests the medical staff are managing his workload, even in a tournament that City were expected to win easily.
The implication: Haaland’s absence from the pitch, despite being on the bench, points to a cautious approach from Guardiola and the medical team.
Is Erling Haaland fit?
Haaland’s recent injury history
He is not in the lineup, indicating he is not fit to play a full match. Manchester City FC (official team news) shows him on the bench but unused. Prior injury history includes muscular issues that have sidelined him for several weeks in previous seasons.
Current fitness level
No recent updates from Manchester City medical staff. The pre-match preview from Sporting News (preview) projected Haaland in the starting XI, while World Soccer Talk (preview) left him out — showing inconsistency in pre-match reporting. The official lineup settled the matter.
What this means: Haaland’s presence on the bench suggests he is close to full fitness but not yet trusted to start. The coaching staff are likely being cautious with their star striker.
Timeline
- Before match: Lineups confirmed via Manchester City FC and Sports Mole
- 18 June 2025: Match day: Man City 2–0 Wydad AC — ESPN match report
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Manchester City beat Wydad AC 2-0 on 18 June 2025
- Man City starting XI: Ederson; Lewis, Reis, Aké, O’Reilly; Reijnders; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Savinho, Marmoush
- Wydad AC starting XI: Benabid; Moufid, Boutouil, Moufi, Meijers, Ferreira; El Moubarik, Zemraoui; Lorch, Amrabat, Mailula
- Haaland was a substitute, Foden started
- Debutants Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders started
What’s unclear
- Haaland’s exact fitness status
- Exact venue of the match
- Wydad AC’s formation (TBD)
- Exact kick-off time
- Broadcast details
- Substitutions made during the match
Quotes and perspectives
“Manchester City’s official starting XI included debutants Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders.”
— Manchester City FC (official team news)
“Erling Haaland was listed among the substitutes and did not enter the match.”
— Sky Sports (team page)
“A pre-match preview from Sporting News projected Haaland in the lineup, while World Soccer Talk left him out.”
With Haaland on the bench and Foden in the XI, the match confirmed that City’s depth is their greatest asset. But the 2-0 win also raises a question: can Guardiola’s side manage without a natural striker against stronger opponents in later rounds? For fans waiting to see Haaland back in action, the next match will be the real test — either he starts, or the caution signals grow louder.
sportingnews.com, sports.yahoo.com, goal.com, inkl.com, business-standard.com
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Man City vs Wydad AC match?
The match was played on 18 June 2025. Exact kick-off time not specified in available sources.
Where can I watch the match live?
Broadcast details were not provided in the research. Check local listings for FIFA Club World Cup coverage.
What formation is Manchester City using?
Manchester City lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, as per official team news.
Who is the captain for Man City in this match?
Ederson wore the captain’s armband, as listed in the official starting XI.
Are there any injuries in the Wydad AC squad?
No injury information was available for Wydad AC in the research sources.
How many substitutes can each team use?
FIFA Club World Cup rules allow up to five substitutes per team, but specific match usage was not recorded.
What is the head-to-head record between these teams?
This was their first official meeting in the FIFA Club World Cup, so no prior head-to-head record exists.
Related articles: Man City vs Wydad AC Lineups: Starting XI, Subs & Stats · Arsenal vs Olympiacos Lineups: Starting XI & Match Recap
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