Preview - Group G: Al Ain FC (UAE) v Juventus (ITA)

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Preview - Group G: Al Ain FC (UAE) v Juventus (ITA)

Washington: Al Ain will aim to draw from their pedigree and past experiences when they face Italian giants Juventus in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group G opener on Wednesday.

The Emirati side are no strangers to the tournament, reaching the final in their second appearance before falling to European heavyweights Real Madrid in the 2018 edition. 

Juventus, while having won the Intercontinental Cup in 1985 and 1996, are making their maiden FIFA Club World Cup appearance.

Preview - Group H: Real Madrid (ESP) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Preview - Group H: Real Madrid (ESP) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Miami: A new era begins for Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC under head coach Simone Inzgahi with a mouth-watering tie against Spanish giants Real Madrid in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group H opener on Wednesday.

Inzgahi, who took over from Jorge Jesus after steering Inter Milan to a runners-up finish in the UEFA Champions League 2024/25, will have the task of taking the four-time Asian champions to greater heights.

Preview - Group E: River Plate (ARG) v Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Preview - Group E: River Plate (ARG) v Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Seattle: Urawa Red Diamonds will brace themselves for a tough fight in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 opener against Argentina’s River Plate at the Lumen Field on Tuesday.

While Urawa are making their fourth appearance, River Plate are competing for the third time, having finished runners-up in 2015 and third in 2018.

Preview - Group F: Ulsan HD FC (KOR) v Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Preview - Group F: Ulsan HD FC (KOR) v Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)

Orlando: Korea Republic’s Ulsan HD FC will be aiming for a winning start to their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign when they take on Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in Group F on Tuesday.

Ulsan qualified via the AFC rankings pathway as the most consistent Asian club side in recent seasons, a route they share with Memelodi who qualified via the CAF rankings pathway.

Dominant Flamengo ease past Esperance

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Dominant Flamengo ease past Esperance

Philadelphia: Brazilian giants Flamengo set themselves up for a FIFA Club World Cup 2025 showdown with Chelsea by easing to a 2-0 win against Esperance of Tunisia in their opening game at the tournament on Monday.

Goals either side of half time from Uruguayan international Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Luiz Araujo gave a dominant Flamengo - coached by former Chelsea player Filipe Luis - a deserved victory in the Group D clash in Philadelphia.

Chelsea too strong for Los Angeles

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Chelsea too strong for Los Angeles

Atlanta: Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group D campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC on Monday.

Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez's goals got the Blues off to a good start in a competitive clash against one of the three qualified MLS teams.

New signing Liam Delap made his debut as a substitute and helped set up Fernandez's strike, with Chelsea hoping to reestablish themselves among the elite after their UEFA Conference League triumph and Champions League qualification.

Boca denied as Benfica fight back

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Boca denied as Benfica fight back

Miami: Goals from two Argentine internationals denied Boca Juniors victory over Benfica on Monday, as the Buenos Aires side were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw in a stormy FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group C clash.

An Angel Di Maria penalty on the stroke of half-time and an 86th-minute header from Nicolas Otamendi earned the 10-man Lisbon side a point from a fiercely contested encounter in what was a de facto home game for Boca.

The Argentine club had led 2-0 thanks to goals from Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia and looked set for a night of celebration after Benfica went down to 10 men in the 72nd minute.

Botafogo edge Sounders to claim winning start

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Botafogo edge Sounders to claim winning start

Seattle: Botafogo began their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign with a 2-1 victory against Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday at Lumen Field, the Major League Soccer side's home stadium.

The Brazilian side displayed attacking quality in the first half but had to rely on stout defence after the interval to hold off the Sounders.

First-half goals from Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus left the Brazilians level with Paris Saint-Germain, but in second place in Group B due to an inferior goal difference.

Palmeiras, Porto share spoils

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Palmeiras, Porto share spoils

New York: SE Palmeiras and FC Porto played out a pulsating 0-0 draw in the third game of Matchday Two at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

Palmeiras and Porto traded blows but failed to score in front of a crowd packed with Brazilian supporters, leaving all four Group A sides on one point.

PSG overwhelm 10-man Atletico

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

PSG overwhelm 10-man Atletico

California: Newly crowned European Champions Paris Saint-Germain launched their bid for FIFA Club World Cup glory with a convincing 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

In searing heat at the Pasadena Rose Bowl east of Los Angeles, PSG proved too hot to handle for their Spanish opponents in an impressive opening Group B win.

Goals from Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Senny Mayulu and Lee Kang-In sealed the three points for PSG, who delighted a crowd of 80,619 with their adventurous attacking play in temperatures that reached 31 degrees Celsius shortly after kick-off at midday local time.

Bayern cruise past Auckland City

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Bayern cruise past Auckland City

Cincinnati: Bayern Munich were at their best against Auckland City FC at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on Sunday, beating the team from New Zealand 10-0 in their opening as Jamal Musiala came off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick.

Kingsley Coman, Michael Olise and Thomas Mueller all netted twice, while Sacha Boey was also on target for the German champions in the game in Group C, which also features Argentina's Boca Juniors and Benfica of Portugal.

Harry Kane started but didn't find the target before being replaced just after the hour mark by Musiala, who netted his three goals in the space of 18 minutes towards the end.

Asian Stars to watch

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025

Asian Stars to watch

Kuala Lumpur: With the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup 2025 having kicked off in the United States, all eyes are turning to Asia’s finest as they aim to leave their mark on the global stage. 

The-AFC.com spotlights players to watch from the four Asian sides - UAE’s Al Ain FC, Al Hilal  SFC of Saudi Arabia, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and Ulsan HD of Korea Republic, plus special mentions.

Inter Miami, Al Ahly settle for stalemate

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025

Inter Miami, Al Ahly settle for stalemate

Miami: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Egyptian side Al Ahly played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday as the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 got off to a smooth start in front of 60,927 fans in Florida.

Messi was denied a storybook stoppage-time winner when he saw his curling shot from 20 yards out tipped on to the bar by Mohamed El Shenawy as Miami piled on the pressure in the final minutes of the game.

Al Ahly, who were cheered on by over 10,000 of their supporters, were left to rue a first-half penalty from Egypt international Trezeguet which was saved by Miami's Argentine keeper Oscar Ustari.

But the Egyptians also had El Shenawy to thank for another fine save in the dying seconds to keep out a header from Maxi Falcon as Miami pushed for three points in the Group A clash.