Rejuvenated Juventus squad eyes redemption in Club World Cup

Perhaps once they would have been one of the title contenders, but mismanagement and financial problems have changed the reality of a world giant like Juventus. The ‘Vecchia Signora’ will not be at the Club World Cup as champions of anything, but for a European performance that scored points for their Europa League semi-finals, rather than for a Champions League where they are the club with the most runners-up finishes in history.

If there is one thing that abounds at Juve, it is uncertainty. Until a few days ago, few could say that Igor Tudor would be the Turin coach at the Club World Cup, but the continuity of Antonio Conte at Napoli changed the scenario and the Croatian will maintain the project that was restarted a year ago with the sacked Thiago Motta. Fortunately, although it has been a blank year in terms of titles, it has not been a year to waste.

It can be said that at the ‘Vecchia Signora’ there is a new idea and a desire to renew the dressing room. The team with the most draws in the major leagues along with Osasuna with 16, Juventus have once again qualified for the Champions League and have solid young players such as Dusan Vlahovic, Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao and Kephren Thuram. Although they will compete with Manchester City in Group G, they should be in the last 16 and fight to go as far as possible. This could be their first international title since their last Champions League in 1996.

Squad list

Players to watch

The revamped Juventus is built on a clear reference: Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian striker arrived from Fiorentina in January 2022 with the tag of great goalscorer and although he has not performed as expected, he is the undisputed striker of the team. This season, 15 official goals and five assists, 56 and 13 in his time in Turin. Everything that has been signed around him has been thinking of supplying him with more and better balls, sharing the attack with Nicolas Gonzalez, the PSG loanee Kolo Muani and perhaps one of the great projects of this Juve, Kenan Yildiz.

The German of Turkish origin - and international with the Ottomans - has established himself this season at the age of 19, starting on both the right and left flanks, taking advantage of his good touch with both legs. This season he has made 48 appearances, 38 as a starter, scoring nine goals and providing six assists. In addition, he has been the best dribbling winger in Serie A and one of those who has generated the most key passes and dangerous balls from his position.

And although his role has been more of a substitute, we cannot forget Francisco Conceicao, who is coming off the back of an extraordinary Nations League Final Four with Portugal after scoring a stunning goal against Germany. A lot of talent is concentrated in Juventus' attacking front, but they are weaker in the build-up. Apart from the tireless Locatelli, who is injured for the World Cup, Koopmeiners is a finisher and Khephren Thuram is pure physicality. At the back, although Kalulu and Renato Veiga are growing, they leave doubts at super-elite level.

Coach

The doubts, for the moment, have been resolved and Igor Tudor will be Juventus' coach at the Club World Cup. The Croatian, who was a centre-back for the ‘Vecchia Signora’ in the late 90s and early 2000s, arrived in March to replace the sacked Thiago Motta in a role more of an interim than a project coach. In fact, he signed until 30 June 2025, hence the club considered replacing him with Antonio Conte when the opportunity arose. Now he could be extended until next summer 2026.

The Croatian coach's career began at his hometown club Hadjuk Split and continued in Greece (PAOK) and Turkey (Karabükspor and Galatasaray) before returning to Italy, where he managed Udinese and Hellas Verona. In France, he had a great year at Olympique Marseille, with whom he finished third, and returned to Serie A twice. First, in the post-Sarri Lazio. And finally, at Juventus, who believed in Motta's potential after his brilliant spell at Bologna, but ended up losing patience. In his nine games he managed five wins, three draws and only suffered one defeat, leading the ‘Bianconeri’ back to the Champions League.

Group stage fixtures

Matchday 1 

Juventus will make their Club World Cup debut on Thursday 19th June (03:00, Spanish time) at Audi Field (Washington) against Al-Ain, the most successful club in the United Arab Emirates, twice champions of the AFC Champions League (2003 and 2004) and finalists of the 2018 Club World Cup, where they lost to Real Madrid (1-4). The 'Bianconeri's record against Asian opposition is limited to friendlies.

Matchday 2

In the second matchday, Juve will host Wydad Casablanca on Sunday 22nd June (18:00, Spanish time) at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia). They are the only Moroccan representative and one of the four African teams present at the World Cup after winning their third African Champions League in 2022.

Matchday 3 

Igor Tudor's side will bring the group stage to a close on Thursday 26th June (21:00, Spanish time) at the Camping World Stadium (Orlando) against Manchester City. A priori, a head-to-head between the two big favourites to lead Group G. Historically, Juve have faced the Sky Blues seven times since 1976, four in UEFA and three in the Champions League, with a record of four wins, two draws and just one defeat.

Possible starting XI