How they qualified: Winners of AFC Champions League™ 2023/24

Previous Appearance: 2018 Runners-up 

Head Coach: Vladimir Ivic (SRB)

2024/25 Form: League Stage of AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25, 5th in UAE Pro League

Group G Fixtures - June 18: v Juventus FC (ITA), June 22: v Manchester City (ENG), June 26: Wydad AC (MAR)

Al Ain will head into their Group G challenge on the back of a difficult season, having suffered early elimination in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 and finishing fifth in the UAE Pro League.

It was a hard landing for Al Ain after a 2023/24 season which saw them emerging continental champions for a second time, having won the inaugural title in 2003. 

On paper, they face an extremely tough FIFA Club World Cup challenge with Manchester City of England, Italy's Juventus and Morocco's Wydad AC their opponents. 

Al Ain, however, closed their season strongly as Serbian Ivic - who took charge in February - steadied the ship and the two-time Asian champions went undefeated in their last seven league games.

Central to their hopes will be prolific striker Soufiane Rahimi, who flourished despite Al Ain's troubles.

He starred at Paris 2024, finishing as the top scorer in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, remarkably scoring in all six of Morocco’s fixtures as they took the bronze medal.

The Moroccan netted five goals on the continental stage despite Al Ain being eliminated at the League Stage.

Rahimi also had 15 goal involvements in 26 UAE Pro League outings and the MVP and Top Scorer of the AFC Champions League 2023/24 is relishing the chance of taking on Al Ain's Group G opponents.

“You need to believe in your abilities. Thankfully, I’m one of those players who does believe in their abilities, and I want to keep the same aspiration and level of focus that brought me success in the Champions League and at the Olympics.

“Hopefully (at the Club World Cup) I’ll be one of the tournament’s top scorers or one of the players who makes an impact. I always say that nothing’s impossible in football," said the 29-year-old to FIFA.com.  

Rahimi said Al Ain are not fazed by the quality of their opponents.

“Just like any team that is taking part in this major tournament, we have great ambitions. We hope to live up to our fans’ expectations, as well as those of every football fan. Nothing is impossible in football. We’ll play with everything we’ve got and we hope to achieve our goal of representing Al Ain with pride.

“They’re huge teams. Each one of us wants to give their best and make the whole world notice. I want to give my all and I’ll make the world watch us. Facing big teams takes away any hesitation and removes all obstacles. These matches, as we said earlier, make men, and are played with passion and heart. Thank God, we’re playing against big teams that will make us perform well, God willing."