Club World Cup: Dortmund and Fluminense advance; Sundowns leaves its mark

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Overview and Perspectives

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has begun, and it is already generating countless comments and memorable moments. Here we bring you a summary of what has happened, what you have missed, and what is yet to come. Stay tuned for our daily updates with the latest reports, analysis, and highlights of the competition.

The End of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Dream

Mamelodi Sundowns surprised everyone at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, achieving a 0-0 draw against Fluminense of Brazil. Despite their efforts and moments of dominance on the field, the South African team was one point away from qualifying for the knockout stage of the Club World Cup. Although their participation in the tournament ended on Wednesday, Mamelodi Sundowns left an indelible mark. They arrived as a mystery to many, overshadowed by the media attention focused on Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense. However, the South African team quickly grabbed the headlines, both on and off the field. The African team defeated Ulsan HD 1-0 and put Borussia Dortmund in a tight spot with a narrow 4-3 defeat, before reaching the last match of the group stage with the hope of reaching the round of 16. They started the match with more strength than their Brazilian rival and continued to control the ball as the game progressed. In the 55th minute, Sundowns had already made three shots on goal, while the Brazilian team had not made any, and they maintained 71% possession. At the end of the match, Sundowns recorded seven shots in total; 554 passes, compared to Fluminense’s 258; and 68% possession. The attack tested Fluminense’s goalkeeper, Fábio, forcing him to make crucial saves in the first half. In the stands, the team’s supporters, although few in number, demonstrated immense energy. Despite being outnumbered and out-sung by Fluminense fans at Hard Rock Stadium, the group of about 50 Sundowns fans, dressed in yellow and green, did not stop cheering. The group sang with choreographies and drums, creating a contagious atmosphere that inspired nearby neutral spectators to join in the chants and dances. Some Mamelodi Sundowns fans wore decorative headdresses with sequins and feathers, showing their unconditional support for the team. The Club World Cup aims to provide teams from around the world with a platform to shine, and Mamelodi Sundowns seized the opportunity to showcase their talent to international viewers. Despite Sundowns’ early elimination, each performance enhanced the team’s international reputation and gained them new followers.

Mamelodi Sundowns significantly boosted its international reputation with its formidable performance in the Club World Cup.

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Dortmund Secures the Victory

It seems that the elite European teams are gauging their strength in this Club World Cup, and with good reason, considering it’s their rest time, fatigue, and the heat. Borussia Dortmund is a clear example of this, securing a 1-0 victory over Ulsan HD at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, a result that guarantees them first place in Group E. Their reward: more rest, as their round of 16 match will be the last of the phase, on July 1st in Atlanta, and they will likely face River Plate or Monterrey. Daniel Svensson scored the only goal of the match ten minutes before halftime after Ulsan tried, unsuccessfully, to play out from their penalty area. The loose ball reached Jobe Bellingham inside the area, who passed it to his Swedish teammate to score. Dortmund barely tried, but shot at Ulsan’s goal 28 times (11 on target), forcing Jo to make a superb performance (10 saves, avoiding 2.01 xG) in the afternoon heat.

Dortmund secured their place at the top of Group E with a 1-0 victory over Ulsan HD.We were also able to see Giovanni Reyna, who had his first minutes in the Club World Cup in a brief 12-minute cameo, where he completed only four passes. Dortmund will need to be much more forceful if they want to go far in the tournament, especially if they face Manchester City or Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and, possibly, Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. Despite this, coach Niko Kovac is satisfied with his team’s performance.

Delap Celebrates His First Goal with Chelsea

Liam Delap needed only three appearances to score his first goal for Chelsea, but admitted to feeling “relieved” to debut, with Benfica as the Blues’ next opponent in the round of 16. The £30 million signing from Ipswich Town scored with an intelligent turn and finish as the Blues beat Espérance Sportive de Tunis in Philadelphia on Tuesday to reach the round of 16. All eyes are on Delap, given that Nicolas Jackson is suspended against Benfica after receiving a two-match ban for his red card against Flamengo.

Enzo Maresca talks about Chelsea’s pass to the round of 16 of the Club World Cup, as well as how Liam Delap has adapted to the Chelsea team.

I arrived to score goals, and scoring the first one is a great feeling. There’s always a bit of relief and then you feel more confident, and when you arrive at a club like this, you have to be confident and believe.

Liam Delap

Benfica will represent a considerably more difficult test, and although it comes early in Delap’s time at Chelsea, it is a task that excites him.

That’s why I came to this club, that’s why I started playing football, to play on big stages like this, and I’m very excited. This tournament has really helped me adapt, because if we were back on the training ground, everyone would disappear at 3 o’clock. Here, we’re all together all the time and it’s a great way to adapt. Everyone has been very helpful.

Liam Delap

The Intense Calendar of FC Salzburg

FC Salzburg is on the verge of qualifying for the knockout phase and could even qualify from Group H with a loss against Real Madrid on Friday if the match between Al Hilal and Pachuca doesn’t have a winner. However, amidst all the noise from the major European league teams about exhaustion and lack of rest, Salzburg’s workload would likely send most Premier League and LaLiga stars into despair. The Austrian team finished their domestic season with a 4-2 victory against Rapid Vienna on May 24th and began their Club World Cup campaign against Pachuca just 25 days later. But while the English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German teams in the Club World Cup are set to give their players a break after the tournament, in preparation for the new season in August, Salzburg will begin their Champions League qualifying campaign against SK Brann of Norway on July 23rd. And before Thomas Letsch’s team plays the second leg seven days later, they will have to face Union Procon Dietach in the Austrian Cup on July 26th. If Salzburg reaches the knockout stages of the Club World Cup, they would need at least a draw against Real Madrid on Thursday night to have a chance, their rest prospects seem non-existent.

Analysis of Upcoming Matches

Juventus vs. Manchester City (Group G; Orlando, Fla., 3 p.m. ET)After two matches against modest rivals, it’s difficult to know where Manchester City is. There are new players and new coaches. But is this really a new beginning, or are the problems that plagued them last year still there? The decisive Group G match against Juventus should tell us a lot. Pep Guardiola played with two different XIs against Wydad AC and Al Ain: the team he chooses against Juventus should be a clear indication of how interested he is in winning this tournament. Will Rúben Dias and Rodri make their first appearances in a strong team, or will there be more rotation to manage the minutes? With an impressive performance and a victory against Juventus, City would become one of the favorites. Losing or drawing, thus establishing a possible round of 16 match against Real Madrid, and they could face an early trip home. Thursday’s match at Camping World Stadium should answer many questions.

Wydad AC vs. Al Ain (Group G; Washington, D.C., 3 p.m. ET)

The incredible and energetic traveling support of Wydad has been one of the highlights of the Club World Cup, which makes it a shame that neither they nor Thursday’s opponents, Al Ain, have any chance of advancing to the round of 16 given the results to date. In the end, Wydad’s energy and commitment to numbers in attack gave both Man City and Juventus a brief scare, but both teams had the quality and composure to choose. Expect the same enthusiasm at Audi Field and, perhaps, some goals: only Auckland City FC (17) has conceded more than Al Ain (11) in this competition to date.

Al Hilal vs. Pachuca (Group H; Nashville, Tenn., 9 p.m. ET)

Coming soon preview…FC Salzburg vs. Real Madrid (Group H; Philadelphia, Penn., 9 p.m. ET)Kylian Mbappé returned to Real Madrid training on Wednesday after a week recovering from gastroenteritis, but he has not traveled to make his debut in the tournament against Salzburg, staying in Palm Beach. In his absence, young forward Gonzalo García has done more than enough, with a goal and an assist so far, to continue up front if Mbappé is not ready to start. This match is another opportunity for new coach Xabi Alonso to get closer to the type of Madrid team he wants to see, after defender Raúl Asencio’s early red card against Pachuca meant that Alonso’s tactical game plan had to be torn up after only seven minutes. Newcomer Dean Huijsen has impressed so far, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has progressed steadily. Antonio Rüdiger could start alongside them in defense, having come off the bench against Pachuca. And there will be anticipation about Rodrygo, with speculation about his future this summer, after he didn’t play a single minute in that match in Charlotte. As for the low-profile Salzburg, they have put themselves in a decent position, with four points in two games so far. The result here, and in Al Hilal vs. Pachuca, will determine if they advance to the round of 16.