Manchester City faced Al Ain in their second Group G match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday, June 22nd. City entered the match following a 2-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca, while Al Ain were looking to bounce back from a heavy 5-0 defeat to Juventus.

Pep Guardiola, as expected, made wholesale changes to his starting eleven, with Rayan Ait-Nouri making his debut for the club. The manager had previously stated his intention to give all members of his 27-man squad playing time throughout the tournament, and with qualification to the knockout stages within reach, this match presented an ideal opportunity to rotate.

Al Ain, managed by Vladimir Ivić, were under pressure to get a result, knowing that another defeat would eliminate them from the competition. The Emirati side, who qualified for the Club World Cup by winning the Asian Champions League in 2024, hoped that their experienced players, including former Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patrício and attackers Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba and Soufiane Rahimi, could help them secure at least a point.

A win for Manchester City would secure their place in the Round of 16 with a game to spare and set up a group decider against Juventus. Even a draw would likely be enough for City to progress, given their superior goal difference.

Going into the match, the key storylines revolved around City's squad rotation, Al Ain's need for a positive response, and the potential implications for the Group G standings.

Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal was selected by FIFA to oversee the match between Manchester City and Al Ain.