The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is in full swing and has completed the group stage, revealing the sixteen teams that will advance to the knockout rounds. This tournament, the first edition with the expanded format of 32 teams, has not gone without controversy. But despite concerns about attendance and playing conditions, the FIFA Club World Cup continues as planned. Read below about the matches and the chances of the various clubs competing for glory.
Palmeiras – Botafogo
The experienced Brazilians from Palmeiras are used to high pressure and often push their opponents to the limit. They create many shots, but those can sometimes fly well wide of the goal. If they want to beat Botafogo, they’ll need to be more efficient. Botafogo, after all, are the reigning Brazilian and South American champions and already impressed in the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup with their immense effort and solid defense. They even defeated Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain. They are unbeaten in their last five encounters with Palmeiras.
Benfica – Chelsea
Benfica secured first place in their group, thanks largely to leaders Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi. These two experienced players left their mark on the team’s performance. Di María, for example, has already scored three goals. However, it’s also clear that Benfica struggles against top-tier teams. Chelsea, under manager Enzo Maresca, has found new life, with more depth in the squad and high ball possession tactics. But attacker Cole Palmer is going through a rough patch, which could become an issue. In the context of the FIFA Club World Cup, every weakness can be decisive.
Paris Saint-Germain – Inter Miami
PSG is currently considered one of the best teams in the world: they dominate opponents with extremely high possession and relentless pressing. They’re also quick in transition and deadly on the counterattack. However, their focus seems to have dropped a bit after their Champions League title, and they’ve already dropped points against smaller teams. Inter Miami is hoping to capitalize on a lethargic PSG and is counting on the magic of Lionel Messi. The Argentine often decides matches for the American team, such as with the free kick in the game against FC Porto. That made Inter Miami the first MLS team to defeat a European side in an official FIFA Club World Cup match. Still, a victory over PSG might be a bridge too far.
Flamengo – Bayern Munich
Flamengo impressed against Chelsea: the Brazilian club created beautiful chances and maintained a lot of possession. Their strong defense and creative attack could be an asset against Vincent Kompany’s Bayern. However, Flamengo often plays at a slower pace, which might be a disadvantage against the quick bursts of the young Germans. Bayern aims to dominate matches with frequent shots on goal, suffocating their opponents. But they must be wary of counterattacks, as the Rekordmeister is still occasionally caught off guard.
Manchester City – Al Hilal
There’s no denying that Manchester City remains one of the best teams in the world. In the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup, they scored the most goals and were the only team to win all their matches. Still, their defense may be a weak spot against a team that counters quickly. Al Hilal plays from an organized defense, looking to break quickly. With experienced players like Yassine Bounou, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Ruben Neves, they conceded only one goal in the group stage. Their weak point is efficiency, which will need to improve against a goalkeeper like Ederson.
Real Madrid – Juventus
The Spanish giant is seen as one of the top favorites to win the tournament. Their greatest strength lies in their talent, with players like Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, and Federico Valverde, who have already made the difference multiple times. The expected return of Kylian Mbappé will further strengthen their attack. However, injuries have weakened their defense, forcing an improvised back line. Opponent Juventus is more balanced across the pitch, showing great effort and a solid defense. Still, they’ve shown that effort alone isn’t always enough, as seen in their defeat to Manchester City. It’s a classic European clash that could define this year’s FIFA Club World Cup.
Inter Milan – Fluminense
Inter topped their group but is struggling with injuries to key players like Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Marcus Thuram. As a result, the lineup is more experimental, though they’re still performing well. Fluminense will rely on their defense, particularly the experienced Thiago Silva. Scoring remains a weak point for them, as they only managed to find the net in one group stage match.
Borussia Dortmund – Monterrey
Dortmund is in good form and also won their group, though they weren’t dominant in every match. Still, they seem to be improving steadily. Newcomer Jobe Bellingham has already proven to be very important. They face Monterrey, which again plays from a defensive setup. Their high defensive line is notable, often catching players offside. In that defense, Sergio Ramos stands out as a familiar name. Both teams aim to make a deep run in what has become the most competitive FIFA Club World Cup to date.
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