Will Real Madrid superstar return for Club World Cup?

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL — Despite practicing with his teammates for the first time in a week, Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé was left off the team’s travel roster for the final group match of the FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday, June 25.

Mbappé missed Real Madrid’s first two group matches, and was hospitalized on June 19 “to treat an acute case of gastroenteritis,’  the club said. He participated in a workout at the team hotel last Friday, June 20, and did some weightlifting on Monday, June 23.

Real Madrid faces Austrian side FC Salzburg at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia in the group finale, with the tournament’s knockout stage beginning Saturday, June 28.

A day before the match, Mbappé appeared to ease himself into the first 15 minutes of practice open to media at The Gardens North County District Park, where the club has trained during the Club World Cup. Mbappé lightly stretched, jogged and participated in a kicking and agility drill during the viewing period.

Real Madrid and Salzburg each have a path to the Club World Cup’s round of 16, but will play to decide which will win Group H. Both clubs have four points in the standings.

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal has two points and an outside chance to reach the next round, while Mexican side Pachuca has been eliminated. They play Thursday at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, with the final Group H games synchronized to start at 9 p.m. ET.

If Real Madrid is the Group H runner-up, it will meet the Group G winners in Orlando on June 30 in the round of 16. If Real Madrid wins Group H, it will meet the Group G runner-up in Miami on July 1.

Here are the scenarios for Real Madrid to advance, according to FIFA:

Real Madrid will qualify as Group H winners if:

Win vs. FC Salzburg.
Draw vs. FC Salzburg.
Draw 0-0 with FC Salzburg, and Al Hilal do not beat CF Pachuca by a margin of three or more goals, or a margin of two goals while scoring at least four (4-2, 5-3, etc).
Draw 0-0 vs. FC Salzburg, Al Hilal beat Pachuca 3-1, and Real Madrid finish above Al Hilal on fair play ranking, or if equal, win the drawing of lots.

Real Madrid will qualify as Group H runners-up if:

Loss to Salzburg, and Pachuca wins against Al Hilal.
Draw 0-0 with Salzburg, and Al Hilal beat Pachuca by a margin of three or more goals, or a margin of two goals while scoring at least four.
Draw 0-0 with Salzburg, Al Hilal beat Pachuca 3-1, and Real Madrid finish below Al Hilal on fair play ranking, or, if that is equal, lose the drawing of lots.

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