Real Madrid is getting ready for its debut in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, but one major question looms over the match: Will Kylian Mbappé be fit to play against Al-Hilal? In the pre-match press conference, head coach Xabi Alonso remained cautious, though hopeful about the French star’s recovery.

“Kylian felt a bit better this morning, but not well enough to train. We’ll wait until the last moment and decide tomorrow,” said the Spanish coach. Mbappé has been dealing with a fever in recent hours, and his participation will be decided Wednesday morning, just hours before kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Mbappé’s Tactical Role: Movement Up Front

Beyond the uncertainty surrounding his fitness, Xabi Alonso made it clear what Mbappé’s role will be in the attacking system. “He’s not a positional striker, he’s very dynamic. He’s not a typical number 9. We’ll have constant movement, not fixed positions in attack,” explained the coach, who wants to fully exploit the World Cup winner’s qualities.

In his tactical analysis, Alonso also emphasized the importance of placing Jude Bellingham in the right area of the field. “Jude is a natural midfielder, he wants to be involved and reach the box. But to do that, he needs to start from the right position. We’ve worked on that a lot. If we position him well, the whole team will benefit,” he added.

The Basque manager also pointed out that the tournament presents a good opportunity to continue integrating young talents like Endrick and Arda Güler, who have been gradually gaining more playing time. “They’re going through a natural adaptation process. Little by little, they’ll get more minutes, especially now with the heavy schedule and the need for rotation,” Alonso said.

Real Madrid will open its Club World Cup campaign this Wednesday against Al-Hilal, with sights set on adding another international trophy. The big question, however, is whether the team’s superstar will be ready to take the field. As Xabi Alonso put it, the final decision will come on matchday.