Al Ain vs Juventus

Juventus Look to Reclaim Their Throne as Club World Cup Kicks Off

Once a dominant force in European football, Juventus now find themselves in unfamiliar territory—fighting to restore their faded glory. Their journey begins this Wednesday in Washington, D.C., where they’ll face Al-Ain in their opening Group G match of the revamped Club World Cup.

The Italians are joined by Al-Ain, Wydad AC, and reigning champions Manchester City in a tough group, with only the top teams advancing to the knockout stages. While Juventus have lifted the old Intercontinental Cup twice (in 1985 and 1996), this marks their first appearance in FIFA’s modern Club World Cup.

They qualified as UEFA’s eighth-ranked team over the past four years, earning their spot alongside rivals Inter Milan. But their recent struggles are no secret—after nine straight Serie A titles, Juve haven’t won the league since 2020, barely scraping into fourth place last season.

Their Champions League campaign was equally disappointing, with a frustrating habit of drawing games they should have won. In fact, they matched a club record with 20 draws across all competitions in 2024-25—a far cry from the high hopes that greeted Thiago Motta’s appointment as manager. His tenure ended abruptly, and interim boss Igor Tudor—a former Juve player and assistant—has since been handed a longer deal after the club failed to land bigger names like Antonio Conte or Gian Piero Gasperini.

Now, Tudor leads Juventus into uncharted waters. Their opener against Al-Ain is followed by a clash with Wydad in Philadelphia before a daunting meeting with Manchester City. To stand any chance of progressing, they’ll need at least four points from their first two matches.

Al-Ain: The Underdogs with a Dream

Unlike Juventus, Al-Ain are no strangers to the Club World Cup, having made two previous appearances. Their best run came in 2018, when they stunned River Plate on their way to the final—only to be outclassed by Real Madrid.

This time, they arrive as AFC Champions League winners, but their form has dipped since that triumph. After parting ways with manager Hernán Crespo, they crashed out of Asia’s top competition and finished a disappointing fifth in their domestic league.

Under new boss Vladimir Ivić (formerly of Watford and PAOK), Al-Ain remain longshots in Group G. Their best hope for points likely comes against Wydad, but they’ll still dare to dream of another giant-killing moment against Europe’s elite.

The Stakes Are High

For Juventus, this tournament is a chance to prove they still belong among football’s elite. For Al-Ain, it’s an opportunity to relive past heroics. One thing’s certain—the pressure is on from the very first whistle.