Real Madrid Club World Cup Preview With Team News And Fixtures

Among the favorites for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer, Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid will bring a new look to the tournament as they aim for the ultimate prize.

This will be Real Madrid’s seventh involvement in the Club World Cup, having taken part in 2000, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022, but with this new format they will be competing with a host of rivals, rather than representing the continent of Europe.

Los Blancos do so under immense pressure. Failure to win any titles since the European Super Cup in August 2024 cost legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti his job, and new man in the dugout Xabi Alonso comes with a sterling reputation after an impressive stint in charge at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

New signings have also arrived, with Trent Alexander-Arnold joining from Liverpool and Dean Huijsen signing from Bournemouth, and Real Madrid will be looking to build upon a disappointing season by ending on a high with the start of a new era.

Real Madrid team news for the Club World Cup

Xabi Alonso will not have his full squad available to him for his first games in charge due to a number of injuries, but he could count on the return of Éder Militão, who has been out since November with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Now back in training, he could be eased back into the team through this tournament.

One major absence could be that of Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper ended the season with a back problem, which is expected to keep him out until later this month. While he isn’t entirely ruled out, much will depend upon his involvement in training as he returns to action in the coming days.

There are also several regulars who are ruled out, at least for the start of the tournament. Endrick, Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rüdiger are not expected back in time for the start of the tournament, as they overcome different issues, with Rüdiger having gone under the knife to solve a long-term knee injury.

David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal are all included in the squad, but are not realistically expected to be available as they all recover from injuries which caused them to miss the end of the season.

The squad has been filled out with young players, including Jacobo Ramón, who starred in the final games of the La Liga season, and Gonzalo García, who scorred a heroic late winner in the Copa del Rey against Leganés.

The Real Madrid squad in full includes: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Fran González, Sergio Mestre, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, Youssef Enriquez, Jacobo Ramón, Raúl Asencio, Pablo Fortea, Diego Aguado, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Luka Modrić, Aurélien Tchouameni, Arda Güler, Dani Ceballos, Chema Andrés, Víctor Muñoz, Mario Martín, Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo Goes, Endrick, Brahim Díaz and Gonzalo García.

Real Madrid’s expected lineup at the Club World Cup

There are few certainties with a new coach in charge and uncertainty over how Alonso will line up his side having come from Bayer Leverkusen. Indications appear to suggest that he’ll stick with a 4-3-3 shape.

In goal, with Courtois unavailable, deputy Andriy Lunin is set to step in until the Belgian is fully fit.

On the right of defence, new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold could come straight into the team to replace Lucas Vázquez, who will depart at the end of this tournament, with Dani Carvajal still not fit enough to return.

Another new signing could also be involved in central defence, with Dean Huijsen coming in from Bournemouth and being set to start. The fitness of Rüdiger or Militão could determine his partner, though Raúl Asencio is poised to start if doubts surround them both.

At left-back, Fran García remains the only option available, as Real Madrid were not able to complete a move for Álvaro Carreras from Portuguese side Benfica before the tournament deadline.

In midfield, the trio of Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham look likely to keep their places, with Bellingham in a more advanced position ahead of the other two.

One of the biggest question marks is over the vacant position in attack which will join Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé. Rodrygo Goes is best positioned, despite being sidelined by Carlo Ancelotti towards the end of his reign.

Real Madrid fixtures at the Club World Cup

Real Madrid has been drawn in Group H and are by far the strongest team of the four who will face off.

The first game of the tournament for the club will be against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on Wednesday, June 18th, at 3pm EST at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Four days later, on Sunday, June 22nd, Real Madrid will play in Charlotte at the Bank of America Stadium as they take on Mexican opponent Pachuca with another 3pm EST kick-off time.

To wrap up the group stage, Real Madrid will meet a familiar opponent in Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg at 9pm EST at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Should they top Group H, as is expected, they’ll take on the runner-up of Group G in the first knockout round, which will be one of Manchester City, Juventus, Wydad and Al Ain. The quarterfinal will then see them meet either the winner of Group E or the runner-up of Group F, which could include Champions League finalists Inter Milan.