Manchester City is favored to defeat Urawa Red Diamonds with a 75.4% probability, according to the Opta supercomputer, based on pre-match simulations. Pep Guardiola boasts a perfect record of six victories in previous matches as the manager at a FIFA Club World Cup. Historically, Asian clubs have lost all 13 of their FIFA Club World Cup games against European opponents.

In the upcoming semi-final of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, Urawa Red Diamonds will face Manchester City, with the winner advancing to the final against the victor of the match between Fluminense and Al Ahly. This encounter marks only the second competitive meeting between a Japanese and an English club. The previous instance was Manchester United’s 5-3 victory over Gamba Osaka in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final.

Urawa Red Diamonds, having previously finished third in 2007 and fifth in 2017, will compete in their third FIFA Club World Cup. In contrast, it is Manchester City’s debut appearance in the tournament, making them the fourth English club to participate after Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.

European clubs have won the last 20 FIFA Club World Cup matches, with the most recent defeat dating back to Chelsea’s 2012 final against Corinthians (1-0). Notably, three of the four defeats suffered by European clubs in Club World Cup matches were English teams: Vasco da Gama 3-1 Manchester United in 2000, São Paulo 1-0 Liverpool in 2005, and Corinthians 1-0 Chelsea in 2012.

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has a successful history in the FIFA Club World Cup, winning the trophy in each of his three previous participations with Barcelona (2009, 2011) and Bayern Munich (2013). During those editions, his teams secured victories in all six matches.