The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup lit up stadiums across the United States last night and early today, Wednesday and Thursday June 18-19, as Europe’s elite clashed with continental champions in a packed day of action.

Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Juventus were all in action, while rising sides from South America, Africa, and Asia continued their charge in football’s global showdown.

At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Real Madrid stumbled out of the gate under new manager Xabi Alonso, settling for a 1–1 draw against Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal.

Madrid’s young striker Gonzalo García, stepping in for the flu-stricken Kylian Mbappé, scored in the 34th minute after a slick team move. But Rúben Neves leveled from the penalty spot shortly after halftime.

A second Madrid goal seemed certain in stoppage time when they won a penalty — but Al-Hilal’s keeper Yassine Bounou pulled off a spectacular save to deny Federico Valverde, leaving the spoils shared.

Mbappé did not play and remained on the bench as a precaution, having developed a fever earlier this week. Madrid has not confirmed if he will be available for their next match.

Manchester City 2–0 Wydad Casablanca

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City looked sharp in their opener at Lumen Field, Seattle, with an early goal from Phil Foden inside the first two minutes. Jérémy Doku doubled the lead in the 36th minute with a composed finish following a clever through-ball from De Bruyne.

The win was marred slightly by a second-half red card for Rico Lewis, but City comfortably held on and now top Group F.

Guardiola praised the “clinical early pressing” but said the team needs “better discipline and defensive focus” going forward.

Juventus 5–0 Al Ain

Juventus announced themselves as contenders in emphatic style at Audi Field, Washington, D.C., hammering the UAE side Al Ain 5–0.

Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceição each scored twice, while 19-year-old Kenan Yildiz added a late goal to cap the rout.

Massimiliano Allegri fielded a youthful but high-tempo side that overwhelmed their Gulf opponents with aggressive pressing and sharp finishing.

With this result, Juventus leap to the top of Group G, tied on points with Manchester City but with a superior goal difference.

Red Bull Salzburg 2–1 Pachuca

At TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Red Bull Salzburg came from behind to defeat Mexican side Pachuca in a weather-disrupted match that resumed after a thunderstorm delay.

Salzburg, trailing 1–0 before the delay, equalized in the 52nd minute via a well-placed header from Strahinja Pavlović. Karim Konaté slotted home the winner late in the game, pushing Salzburg into contention in Group E.

Matches still to come tonight

Two more matches are scheduled for later today:

Al Ahly vs Palmeiras – Kick-off: 8:30 pm at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

A rematch of continental kings, with CAF giants Al Ahly facing Brazil’s Palmeiras in a high-stakes Group A clash.

FC Porto vs Inter Miami – Kick-off: 11:30 pm at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez are expected to start for Inter Miami, facing a technically solid Porto side in what’s being dubbed the “headline clash” of the day.

Fan Zone

Thanks to Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), fans across the country need not miss any of the action as matches are being broadcast live and exclusively in Afghanistan on Ariana Television.

Real Madrid’s star forward Kylian Mbappé is currently a major question mark ahead of the team’s opening FIFA Club World Cup match against Al‑Hilal in Miami on Wednesday. 

Mbappé missed Tuesday’s training session after waking up with a high fever, casting “more than reasonable doubt” over his match fitness, according to club sources.

His absence presents a significant headache for newly-appointed manager Xabi Alonso, with Mbappé being Real’s only recognized centre forward. 

Young Brazilian prospect Endrick was already ruled out due to a leg injury, further limiting Alonso’s attacking options.

Mbappé has been pivotal since his arrival from Paris Saint‑Germain, netting 31 La Liga goals this season and with Real Madrid, fresh off their fifth Champions League triumph in the past decade, Mbappé’s presence (or absence) could prove decisive.

Alonso meanwhile stated the coaching team will make a final fitness decision on Wednesday. 

The match kicks off at 11:30 pm Kabul time and takes place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Matches from Last Night (June 17)

Fluminense 0–0 Borussia Dortmund

A stalemate in Group F at MetLife Stadium (New Jersey), on Tuesday night although Fluminense dominated play, particularly in the first half, but Dortmund’s GK Gregor Kobel kept a clean sheet with multiple key saves.

Mamelodi Sundowns 1–0 Ulsan HD

Another Group F match, held in Orlando was the Mamelodi Sundowns vs Ulsan game that saw history being made. South Africa’s Sundowns’ Iqraam Rayners scored in the 36th minute after a VAR-delayed start due to lightning. This victory marked the first-ever win for an African club in this expanded format.

Inter Milan 1–1 Monterrey

A Group E clash at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena saw Sergio Ramos, 39, put Monterrey ahead with a header in the 25th minute; Lautaro Martínez equalized before halftime. 

River Plate 3–1 Urawa Red Diamonds

Another Group E encounter unfolded in Seattle. Colidio opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Driussi added another early in the second half (but then got injured), Yusuke Matsuo pulled one back for Urawa via penalty, and Meza sealed it in the 73rd minute. 

Tonight’s (June 18) Fixtures:

Manchester City vs  Wydad AC takes place in Philadelphia from 8.30pm. 

Real Madrid vs  Al‑Hilal will take place in Miami from 11:30 pm. 

Pachuca vs  RB Salzburg will take place in Cincinnati (TQL Stadium) from 2:30am

Al Ain vs  Juventus will take place in Washington D.C. from 5:30 am. 

All above times are Kabul time. 

Fans can meanwhile tune in to Ariana Television at the above mentioned times to watch the matches live. Thanks to Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), this thrilling event is being broadcast live and exclusively across Afghanistan on Ariana Television.

The FIFA Club World Cup delivered a night of high drama, stunning scorelines, and breakout performances as Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors, and Benfica clashed across Group C and D fixtures in the U.S.

Chelsea 2–0 LAFC (Atlanta)

Premier League side Chelsea secured a comfortable 2–0 victory over LAFC, with goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández. The Blues, managed by Enzo Maresca, dominated the match from the outset, boasting 65% possession and 17 shots.

Chelsea’s latest acquisition, Liam Delap, made a memorable debut in their 2‑0 FIFA Club World Cup victory over LAFC.

Brought on in the 63rd minute, Delap wasted no time – his intelligent and precise cross set up Enzo Fernández’s decisive goal in the 79th. Manager Enzo Maresca hailed the young striker’s quick assimilation into the team’s style, noting, “he knows the way we want to play, so the process is quite quick”.

Fans and pundits alike were impressed by his confident display, with many calling him “world class” just minutes into his Chelsea career.

Despite the strong on-field showing, the backdrop at Atlanta’s Mercedes‑Benz Stadium was hard to ignore. With a full capacity of roughly 71,000, only about 22,000 supporters were present – leaving more than two-thirds of the seats empty.

Maresca described the atmosphere as “a bit strange,” reflecting the odd environment of playing in such a vast, half-empty venue.

High ticket prices, weekday scheduling, and a lack of regional interest combined to dampen attendance, despite Atlanta’s history of solid support for soccer events, local media reported.

Boca Juniors 2–2 Benfica (Miami Gardens)

In a fiery contest marred by red cards and late drama, Argentine giants Boca Juniors and Portugal’s Benfica played out a 2–2 draw. Boca raced to an early 2–0 lead through Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia, but Benfica clawed their way back with a penalty from Ángel Di María and a late header by Nicolás Otamendi.

The match saw three red cards, including one for Andrea Belotti, as tensions flared in the closing stages.

Bayern Munich 10–0 Auckland City (Miami)

Bayern Munich delivered the most lopsided result of the tournament so far, dismantling New Zealand’s Auckland City 10–0 in a Group C rout. Michael Olise starred with two goals and two assists, while Jamal Musiala made a strong return from injury. Head coach Vincent Kompany praised his side’s discipline and relentless pressing, noting the result could be crucial for goal difference.

What’s Next

Chelsea will face Flamengo next in a high-stakes Group D clash on Friday, while LAFC must regroup ahead of their meeting with ES Tunis on Saturday.

In Group C, Bayern’s next opponent is Boca Juniors, with Benfica set to face Auckland City. The outcomes will decide who progresses to the Round of 16 later this week.

Fans across Afghanistan can tune in to Ariana Television to watch today’s matches live.

First up is Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund at 8.30pm Kabul time. River Plate will take on Urawa Red Diamonds at 11.30pm Kabul time; and Ulsan will meet Mamelodi Sundowns at 2.30am Kabul time; while Monterrey take on Inter Milan at 5.30am tomorrow.