In its debut at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Juventus takes on Al Ain at Audi Field in Washington in the first match of Group G. The Italian team is favored, but will have to be wary of the Emirati club, which has surprised even the big names in the past. In this guide, you will find analysis, predictions, and the best odds for betting.
Although few believe that Al Ain can really trouble an opponent of Juventus’ caliber, the United Arab Emirates side has already shown in the past that it can surprise in major FIFA international competitions.
In 2018, Al Ain stunned everyone by reaching the final of the Club World Cup. Entering the tournament as the host team, they made the most of their home advantage to overcome three difficult rounds: first, they came from behind to win a dramatic penalty shootout against New Zealand’s Team Wellington, then they eliminated Tunisia’s Espérance de Tunis, and finally, they completed their feat by knocking out Argentina’s River Plate on penalties in the semifinals. Their run only came to an end in the final against Real Madrid at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, but the Emirati side’s journey was nonetheless historic.
Juventus, who are taking part in the Club World Cup for the first time, boast a long international tradition. The Bianconeri have already lifted the now defunct Intercontinental Cup twice, beating Argentinos Juniors in 1985 and River Plate in 1996: at the time, it was the annual challenge between the winners of the Champions League and the Copa Libertadores.
The match between Juventus and Al Ain is scheduled for Wednesday night in the US capital. A few hours earlier, in Philadelphia, the other two teams in Group G, Manchester City and Wydad AC, will face each other to complete the fifth day of the FIFA tournament.
Al Ain – Juventus, Thursday 19 at 3:00 a.m.
Bet on the favorites
Given the gap between the two teams in terms of history, trophies, and international visibility, this match has all the makings of a clash between David and Goliath.
Juventus is one of the absolute powerhouses of world football: with a trophy cabinet full of trophies, a huge fan base and global commercial strength, it is an institution both in Italy and in Europe. The “Old Lady” has won eight official international trophies and more Scudetti than any other club in our Serie A. Opposite them, Al Ain is the most successful club in the United Arab Emirates, but its achievements pale in comparison to the history of the Bianconeri. According to the ranking compiled by Opta analysts, Al Ain is ranked 5,074th among the world’s football clubs: among the 32 teams participating in the 2025 Club World Cup, only Auckland City has a lower score.
As if the gap were not already wide enough, Al Ain comes into the tournament after a less than positive 2024/25 season. Following the early dismissal of Hernán Crespo and the departure of his successor Leonardo Jardim (who moved to Cruzeiro), the club handed the reins to former AEK Athens midfielder Vladimir Ivić. At the time of his arrival, Al Ain had already been eliminated in the quarter-finals of both domestic cups and had failed to progress beyond the group stage of the AFC Champions League. Under the new coach, the team put together a run of seven consecutive positive results at the end of the league season, but still had to settle for fifth place.
Juventus, however, also went through a difficult period. After a good start in the Champions League, they were knocked out abruptly by PSV Eindhoven. In the Coppa Italia, they were eliminated on penalties by Empoli and finished the league 12 points behind champions Napoli.
Despite this, Juve remains a team for the big occasions. Qualification for the 2025 Club World Cup came thanks to solid European performances in recent years: three appearances in the Champions League round of 16 in the last five seasons and a Europa League semi-final in 2023 are proof of this.
Don’t expect a goal fest
After Bayern Munich’s 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City, one might think that Juventus could also run riot against a less equipped opponent.
In reality, Igor Tudor’s team has not shone in front of goal this season. In Serie A, they have scored only 58 goals, just one more than ninth-placed Bologna. Their attacking performance in the Champions League has also been modest: nine goals in eight games in the new group stage, one of the worst among the qualifiers.
Al Ain have also shown defensive solidity, conceding just 32 goals in the last UAE Pro League. And despite finishing bottom of the AFC Champions League West Division, they scored more than eight teams — a sign that they can still be dangerous.
Dušan Vlahović can still make the difference
Although Juventus have struggled to find the back of the net recently, Dušan Vlahović has continued to do his job. The Serbian striker finished the season as the Bianconeri’s top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions.
In Serie A, he scored almost a fifth of the team’s total goals, and in Europe he stood out with 20 shots on target: no other Bianconeri player came close to these numbers in the 2024/25 campaign. Also worth mentioning are his three braces against Hellas Verona, Genoa, and Leipzig. Will he be able to replicate this form in Washington, D.C.?
