The opening day of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup delivered drama, goals, and a few surprises — none bigger than Real Madrid being held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in Miami.
It was the first test for new Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, who was left with mixed feelings after a frustrating night in front of 62,000 fans at Hard Rock Stadium.
“The second half was better,” Alonso told DAZN after the final whistle. “We had control, created more chances. But we should have won. We’re still building.”
Madrid took the lead just after the half-hour mark through 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia, who started in place of an ill Kylian Mbappé. The youngster latched onto a Rodrygo pass to calmly finish — a big moment on a big stage.
But Al Hilal, under new coach Simone Inzaghi, responded with composure. Ruben Neves levelled the score from the penalty spot after Raul Asencio brought down an opponent in the area.
The Spanish giants had a golden chance to snatch all three points in stoppage time after Mohammed Al Qahtani was penalised for hand contact in the box. Federico Valverde stepped up — but Yassine Bounou guessed right, diving to save the penalty and preserve the draw for Al Hilal.
Elsewhere in Group H, RB Salzburg edged Mexican side Pachuca 2-1 in Cincinnati. The match was delayed nearly 100 minutes by a storm, but the Austrians held firm after taking the lead in the first half.
Foden Strikes as City Cruise
Earlier in Philadelphia, Manchester City brushed aside Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in the humid afternoon heat. Phil Foden was the star, scoring within two minutes before setting up Jeremy Doku for the second before half-time.
“It’s so hot. The humidity is difficult,” Pep Guardiola said post-match. “But it’s a strong start. The first group game is always important.”
New signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki made their debuts, while City also saw youngster Rico Lewis sent off late on for a dangerous tackle. Guardiola hinted at making sweeping changes before City’s next game against Al Ain in Atlanta on Sunday.
“We’ll rotate. We need fresh legs,” he said. “There’s quality in this squad. We’re not there yet, but we’ll get to the right rhythm.”
Juventus Hit Five, Visit Trump
In the day’s final match, Juventus were ruthless against Al Ain, hammering the Emirati side 5-0 in Washington. The result lifted them to the top of Group G.
Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both bagged braces, while teenager Kenan Yildiz added a fifth. The win came hours after the Italian club visited the White House and presented former U.S. President Donald Trump with a club shirt.
“I’m happy with my goals, but more so with how the team played,” said Conceicao, on loan from Porto. “We started fast and kept the tempo.”
What’s Next
The second round of matches kicks off Thursday. All eyes will be on Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami as they take on Porto, while European champions Paris Saint-Germain face Brazil’s Botafogo in what promises to be a thrilling tie.
The new-look Club World Cup, now a proper group stage tournament hosted across U.S. cities, is off to a lively start. And if day one is anything to go by, more surprises could be around the corner.
