How Manchester City beat Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 in Club World Cup semi-final
Sophia Aguilar
Published Apr 07, 2026
Man City got goals from Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva to book their place in Friday's Club World Cup final against Copa Libertadores winners Fluminense
Michael Dominski
(Getty Images)
England vs Brazil
(Getty Images)
This will be the fifth time that an English club and a Brazilian club face off in the Club World Cup final, with the first four meetings being split two-two.
- 2021: Chelsea 2-1 Palmeiras (a.e.t.)
- 2019: Liverpool 1-0 Flamengo (a.e.t.)
- 2012: Corinthians 1-0 Chelsea
- 2005: Sao Paulo 1-0 Liverpool
Advertisement
One-sided match stats
(Getty Images)
Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
- Possession: 64% - 25% with 11% in contest
- Shot attempts: 25 - 2
- Shots on goal: 9 - 0
- Saves: 0 - 7
- Corners: 7 - 3
- Passes attempted: 812 - 290
- Pass completion: 96% - 81%
- Ball recovery time: 14 sec - 35 sec
- Fouls: 3 - 13
- Yellow cards: 2 - 0
Finales for Kante, Skorża
(Getty Images)
Today's match marked a swan song for two members of Urawa Red Diamonds.
Forward Jose Kante has played the final match of his career at 33 years of age, having announced his retirement last month. Kante earned 28 caps for the Guinea national team and played for clubs in Spain, Cyprus, Poland, Kazakhstan, China and Japan during his career.
Manager Maciej Skorża will also be leaving the club after this tournament.
Pep and Kovacic on verge of history
(Getty Images)
If Manchester City go on to win Friday's Club World Cup final against Fluminense, two of their representatives would make history.
Pep Guardiola would become the first coach to win the tournament for a fourth time, surpassing Carlo Ancelotti's three titles. Guardiola previously won this competition in 2009 and 2011 with Barcelona and in 2013 with Bayern Munich.
Mateo Kovacic, meanwhile, would become the first player to win the Club World Cup with three different clubs, after lifting this trophy in 2016 and 2017 with Real Madrid and in 2021 with Chelsea.
Updated bracket
For the 13th time across the 20 editions of this tournament, the final will feature the champions of Europe against the champions of South America.
We'll have a first-time winner, as this is the first appearance at this competition for both Manchester City and Fluminense.
Job done for Manchester City
(Getty Images)
Good showings from Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic in midfield will help them as they try to bed in. City kept plugging away patiently against the compact defence in the first half and had a bit more space to enjoy themselves in the second.
There were some sloppy moments at the back, the type that have cost them points in the Premier League recently, and that will definitely need to improve going forward, but this was a good night for City and they can now look forward to Friday's final against Fluminense.
Advertisement
FT: Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
The referee blows his whistle for full time and a completely one-sided contest comes to a close. Urawa Reds were able to attempt just two shots across the entire game.
City advance to Friday's final against Brazilian side Fluminense, while Urawa Reds move into the third place play-off against Egyptian side Al Ahly.
Second-half stoppage time
90+1' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Three minutes are added on to the end of the match.
City to continue to live in Urawa Reds' box, searching for a fourth goal.
Man City overcame early frustration to cruise towards win
87' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
This one panned out like everybody would have expected, even down to some of the finer details. City were frustrated by Urawa Reds' compact defence until just before the break but they have been cantering towards the comfortable result that seemed inevitable.
There is a gulf in class between these two teams (the two continents, really) and that was always going to be nigh-on impossible to reverse. Those finer details, though: despite the dominance, City have still flirted with the idea of giving silly goals away, so they cannot forget about their Premier League worries just yet.
Man City looking for fourth goal
85' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
It's Nishikawa's turn to rush off his line, as he denies Alvarez who was in on goal.
Nunes booked
83' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Nunes brings down Ogiwara with a late challenge, prompting the referee to issue him the second yellow card of the match.
Advertisement
Chance for Urawa Reds!
80' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Reds have one of their best chances of the match!
A loose ball is pinballing around the edge of the City box before it eventually falls for Nakajima who's in on goal. His first touch is just a bit too heavy though, allowing Ederson to rush out and block his shot just in time.
Final sub of match
78' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Reds also make their final sub, bringing on Kai Shibato for Ken Iwao.
Final two changes for Man City
77' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Pep Guardiola makes City's final two changes, bringing on Sergio Gomez for John Stones and Kalvin Phillips for Rodri.
Bobb creates chance for Alvarez
76' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Bobb gets to the byline and cuts a pass back for Alvarez, who slams a powerful shot into the chest of Nishikawa from close range.
Shot after shot for Man City
75' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Kovacic fires a shot from the edge of the box that flies well over the target.
City are leading in shot attempts 20-1 and in shots on goal 7-0.
Advertisement
Bobb comes close to goal
69' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
A Urawa Reds defender makes a mess of a clearance, allowing Bobb to cue up a powerful shot from within the box that doesn't miss by much.
Triple change for Man City
64' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Pep Guardiola also responds to leading by three goals with substitutions. Julian Alvarez replaces Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol comes on for Manuel Akanji and 20-year-old Oscar Bobb takes the place of Bernardo Silva.
Another double change for Urawa Reds
64' Manchester City 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Reds respond to falling three goals behind by making another double change, bringing on Shoya Nakajima for Yoshio Koizumi and Bryan Linssen for Jose Kante.
Load more updates
