Kylian Mbappé is likely to make his Club World Cup debut for Real Madrid in the round of 16 match against Juventus on Tuesday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The star striker's potential debut is a significant boost for the 15-time European champions.

Mbappé's availability was uncertain after he suffered from acute gastroenteritis, causing him to miss all three of Real Madrid's group matches. He was even treated at a hospital. Real Madrid managed a 2-0-1 record in the group stage without him.

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso addressed the possibility of Mbappé playing, stating on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium, "I don't know how much, but a big possibility". Alonso had mentioned earlier in the month that his priority was to create a cohesive team. He emphasized the importance of collective effort, stating, "We want a team that works as one, with the 11 players fully committed, whether we have the ball or not". Alonso believes that a strong collective will allow individual talents like Vinicius, Rodrigo, and Bellingham to shine.

In addition to Mbappé, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are also expected to feature in the game against Juventus. Carvajal, who had been sidelined since ACL surgery last fall, expressed his readiness to contribute, saying, "I could be on the bench at the disposal of the manager, so I'm very happy about that".

Juventus coach Igor Tudor acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge, but insisted his team is there to compete. "We've got a top-level team. The draw wasn't the best possible, but it must be accepted," Tudor said. He stressed the importance of belief, effort, and minimizing mistakes, adding, "We have to believe, run a lot, sacrifice, make no mistakes, and also have a bit of luck". Tudor also praised Real Madrid's tactical evolution under Alonso, drawing comparisons to Alonso's successful work at Bayer Leverkusen. He noted similarities in plays, systems, and style, while also pointing out that Madrid still has "some weaknesses we can exploit".

Real Madrid is in Group H of the Club World Cup, along with Al Hilal, Club Pachuca, and RB Salzburg. Their first match was against Al Hilal at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Mbappé's illness had caused concern, with reports indicating he had a fever which prevented him from training with the team before the Al Hilal match. Despite the illness, there remained a possibility that Mbappé could participate, potentially starting on the bench.