Real Madrid Held as Man City and Juventus Shine in Club World Cup Openers

Real Madrid held as Man City Juve triumph in Club World Cup openers, showcasing Europe’s powerhouse clubs in the early stages of the expanded tournament held across the United States. While Real had to settle for a 1‑1 draw, Manchester City and Juventus kicked off with confident victories in their opening games.

Real Madrid 1–1 Al Hilal (Group H, Miami)

• New coach Xabi Alonso debuted with a point as Real Madrid were pegged back by Al Hilal.
• Gonzalo García gave Real the lead in the 34th minute off Rodrygo’s assist, only for Rúben Neves to equalize from the penalty spot before halftime.
• In stoppage time, Federico Valverde’s penalty was saved by Al Hilal’s keeper, denying Real all three points

Manchester City 2–0 Wydad Casablanca (Group G, Philadelphia)

• Phil Foden struck within two minutes to spark City’s Group G campaign.
• Jeremy Doku added a second goal before halftime, sealing a comfortable win in sweltering conditions.
• Manager Pep Guardiola praised new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, who both started despite the heat

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Juventus 5–0 Al Ain (Group G, Washington DC)

• Juve made a statement with a dominant 5‑0 win after visiting the White House.
• Randal Kolo Muani netted twice, with Francisco Conceição also grabbing a brace. Kenan Yıldız rounded out the scoring
• Coach Igor Tudor applauded his team’s tempo and focus, citing the game as a clear indication of Juve’s resurgence

Significance for Global Audiences

• For Kenyan and East African fans, the Club World Cup offers a rare chance to see top European clubs live on U.S. soil via DAZN—feels like hosting the world stage locally.
• Real’s draw, City’s win, and Juventus’s dominance set strong tones for the rest of the tournament, especially in Groups G and H.

What’s Next

• Man City will face Al Ain next, while Juventus meet Wydad in their next Group G clash.
• Real Madrid’s next test comes against Cincinnati-based CF Pachuca, looking to return to winning ways.

With Real Madrid held as Man City and Juve triumph in Club World Cup openers, the tournament is already delivering excitement and drama. Fans across Africa and beyond have much to look forward to as the group stage continues.

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