It’s difficult to know what to expect from Juventus at the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Old Lady are coming off the back of a decent end to the Serie A season. Caretaker boss Igor Tudor secured Champions League football on the final day of the campaign and soon after was confirmed as the permanent manager on a contract until 2027.

The Croat has impressed Juve’s new general manager Damien Comolli, and Tudor will be given a fair crack of the whip to make his mark in the dugout.

Randal Kolo Muani has been secured for the tournament, as has Francisco Conceicao, and the pair are likely to play pivotal roles in Juve’s journey in the United States.

For Tudor, the competition represents a chance to further mould the team in his image, to steer away from the Thiago Motta possession-based era into more of a physical, faster side.

Juve, somehow, qualified for this tournament through their performances in Europe from 2021 to 2024. Despite their European aristocratic status, they have never participated in a Club World Cup.

The last time they featured in a tournament of this nature was the now defunct, but much missed, Intercontinental Cup back in 1996.

Then a one-game event in Japan, Juve saw off a stellar River Plate squad that contained Ariel Ortega, Enzo Francescoli, Juan Pablo Sorin and Julio Cruz, while a young Marcelo Salas was on the bench.

Played in Tokyo’s National Stadium, a well-taken goal from Alessandro Del Piero secured the trophy, and some 29 years later, Juve are back in this much-changed competition.

“We haven’t just come to participate, we’ve come to win,” said a bullish Tudor ahead of their first game.

With Juve ready to listen to offers for several players, including Douglas Luiz, Nico Gonzalez, Dusan Vlahovic and Lloyd Kelly, the games in the US gives some the opportunity to win the new coach over.

Kolo Muani, with eight goals in 16 games for Juve since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain, could remain at the club next season on loan. Yet much will depend on his performances in the USA.

The same applies to Conceicao. Tudor, who had been unsure of the Portuguese talent when first arriving in March, has seemingly been won over by the youngster. 

A good showing in the tournament could prompt Juve to sign him outright from fellow participants Porto.

The Old Lady will be taking the competition seriously, as highlighted by Pierre Kalulu’s statement that he would sacrifice a year’s holiday if it meant winning it.

Whether Juve will or not remains to be seen, but what is not up for debate is that Tudor will want his men to make their mark, starting against Al Ain on Wednesday.

Who are Juve’s opponents?

Juve are in Group G alongside Al Ain, Manchester City and Wydad AC.

The Bianconeri’s tournament kicks off against Al Ain, who hail from the UAE and qualified through winning the Asian Champions League in 2024.

Legendary Serie A hitman Hernan Crespo was the manager who delivered the trophy but he was sacked months later after a 5-1 demolition by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.

Manchester City, despite a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, are among the favourites. City have bolstered their ranks with the signing of former AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders in recent weeks, and Pep Guardiola’s men will have a point to prove after a trophyless campaign.

Wydad, meanwhile, qualified through winning the African Champions League in 2022.

When do Juventus play?

Juve kick off their tournament against Al Ain at 2am on Thursday morning (UK time) at Audi Field in Washington DC.

They face Moroccan side Wydad at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field at 5pm on Sunday June 22 and round off the group with a titanic clash against City on June 26 at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, kicking off at 8pm.

Have Juventus made any new signings ahead of the Club World Cup?

Kolo Muani and Conceicao have been retained but their future remains uncertain after the competition concludes in July.

Renato Veiga has been sent back to Chelsea following the expiration of his loan. 

Tudor and Comolli must make do with what they have, with signings most likely to be made once a new sporting director has been recruited. This will be the chance for the pair to take stock of the players in the squad ahead of next season.