Club World Cup Preview: Group Battles to Watch

(photo: Sofia Cupertino)

The inaugural FIFA Club World Cup kicks off next Saturday, June 14, across the United States. With 32 teams divided into eight groups of four, this new format offers clubs a chance to win up to $125 million in prize money, boost global recognition, and make history as first-time champions. 23 nations are represented, showcasing a unique opportunity for clashes between leagues, cultures, and styles of play that rarely face off. Here, we will examine the dynamics of each group, highlighting favorites, teams to watch, and a young player to follow.

Group A:

Palmeiras (BRA)

FC Porto (POR)

Al Ahly (EGY)

Inter Miami (USA)

Favorite: FC Porto

Team to Watch: Inter Miami CF

Young Player: Estevão Willian, Palmeiras (18)

Estevão & Palmeiras would love to recreate this after the final (photo courtesy of FIFA)

The only group without a representative from Europe’s top five leagues, Group A is truly quite open. Porto are the favorites due to their European pedigree and depth in comparison to their competitors, but they have not been domestically dominant recently, having not won the league in three years. Of course, Inter Miami will always be dangerous with Lionel Messi and company, and they will be home for two group stage matches. Estevão will aim to make waves in his last games for Palmeiras, who sit first in the Brazilian Serie A, and showcase his talent on an international stage. The 18-year-old winger has already notched 3 goals and 2 assists in 9 league appearances this season and is set to join Chelsea in July for $73 million. Al Ahly are not to be overlooked, but they certainly have the longest odds of qualification. In a wide open group with plenty of exciting talent, Group A could provide the most unpredictable results.

Group B:

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Atlético Madrid (ESP)

Botafogo (BRA)

Seattle Sounders (USA)

Favorite: Paris Saint-Germain

Team to Watch: Seattle Sounders

Young Player: Désiré Doué, PSG (19)

The treble might not be enough for Désiré Doué (photo courtesy of FIFA)

PSG and Atlético are clear favorites to come out of Group B, as two European heavyweights who are used to going far in domestic and continental competitions. PSG get the edge as they are coming off their first Champions League title after an emphatic 5-0 triumph over Inter Milan in the final. After the long European campaign ending less than two weeks before the Club World Cup, their stars may be tired, but their impressive quality and depth is still expected to shine through. Seattle and Botafogo face long odds to qualify based on talent and form, as neither have been on fire this season, but Seattle will have all three group games in front of their electric home crowd. Lumen Field has always been a tough place to play for MLS sides, and it's safe to say their crowd will play their role in trying to secure any historical upset.

Group C:

Bayern Munich (GER)

Auckland City (NZL)

Boca Juniors (ARG)

Benfica (POR)

Favorite: Bayern Munich

Team to Watch: Boca Juniors

Young Player: Antonio Silva, Benfica (21)

Will the trophy makes its way back to La Bombonera? (photo courtesy of FIFA)

Group C is one with a clear expected hierarchy. German powerhouse Bayern should easily finish first, with Benfica a clear second, Boca Juniors following them and Auckland City coming in last. However, the games are not played on paper. Benfica have a history of being troublesome for bigger clubs in the Champions League, and Boca Juniors are one of the most successful clubs ever in South America. The talent gap for Auckland City is probably too much to overcome, but they have won 10 consecutive New Zealand league titles. Keep an eye out for Benfica’s Antonio Silva, once touted as the next great player out of their academy. His development has stalled slightly but a strong showing could earn him a major move.

Group D:

Flamengo (BRA)

Espérance (TUN)

Chelsea (ENG)

LAFC (USA)

Favorite: Chelsea

Team to Watch: Flamengo

Young Player: Wesley, Flamengo (21)

Flamengo could be a big surprise in the CWC, featuring former Atlanta United winger Luiz Araujo (photo courtesy of FIFA)

UEFA Conference League champions Chelsea come into the tournament on a high, with a squad brimming with young talent aiming to prove themselves on an international stage. If they click, the English side could be sneaky contenders to win the whole competition, but their inconsistencies make them hard to trust. Flamengo are in great form, sitting second in the Brazilian domestic league and having lost just twice since the start of April. They also had four players called into the Brazilian national team, including marauding right back Wesley. Espérance joins Chelsea and Flamengo as sides in great form, topping the table in Tunisia. LAFC qualified through a playoff in May, and have been inconsistent so far in the MLS. With teams that could surprise in good or bad ways, Group D has potential to be very enjoyable.

Group E:

River Plate (ARG)

Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Monterrey (MEX)

Inter Milan (ITA)

Favorite: Inter Milan

Team to Watch: CA River Plate

Young Player: Franco Mastantuono, River Plate (17)

Will Sergio Ramos play the villain in Group E? (photo courtesy of FIFA)

Off the back of a disastrous Champions League final loss, Inter Milan could come into the Club World Cup with a point to prove, or a defeated mentality. On paper they are clear favorites in Group E but it is impossible to tell how a team will respond from such heartbreak, and with River Plate having lost only one game in 2025, a group upset is more likely than most may expect. The Argentinian side are led by Mastantuono, the teenage phenom coveted by all of the best clubs in the world, looking to announce himself on the global stage. Despite being just 17, he has registered six goal contributions in 12 matches this year. Monterrey have some experienced players who are past their prime but still boast premier quality, most notably Sergio Ramos. Meanwhile, Urawa Red Diamonds do not have the top level talent to match any of the other teams in the group.

Group F

Fluminense (BRA)

Borussia Dortmund (GER)

Ulsan HD (KOR)

Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)

Favorite: Borussia Dortmund

Team to Watch: Fluminense

Young Player: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Borussia Dortmund (20)

Borussia Dortmund go in as the favorites in Group F (photo courtesy of FIFA)

Arguably the weakest group, Group F produced a favorable draw for Borussia Dortmund, who ended the season on a six-game winning streak, scoring 18 goals in that stretch. As usual, the German team is full of exciting young talent, most notably the English winger Bynoe-Gittens. Fluminense are led by serial winner Thiago Silva at the back, and they will be confident after moving up to fifth in the Brazilian table in recent weeks. Mamelodi Sundowns are the most successful club in South Africa’s history, have won eight consecutive South African league titles, and are the reigning champions of the African Football League. Their winning pedigree can’t be ignored, especially in a weaker group. Ulsan HD are reigning champions of the K-League in Korea, but they have not been able to match that form so far this season. Group F is unlikely to produce the competition’s winner, but each team brings interesting subplots.

Group G

Manchester City (ENG)

Wydad Casablanca (MAR)

Al Ain (UAE)

Juventus (ITA)

Favorite: Manchester City

Team to Watch: Juventus

Young Player: Kenan Yildiz, Juventus (20)

Rodri's return will be massive for Manchester City (photo courtesy of FIFA)

Group G contains two recent European powerhouses who have not met their regular standards over the past year. After four straight English league titles, Manchester City slipped to third, failing to win a trophy for the first time in five seasons. They will certainly view the Club World Cup as a chance to save their year, however the squad is in the midst of an overhaul, making their potential performances unpredictable. Meanwhile Juve barely snagged a Champions League qualifying position on the last game of their season, masking an inconsistent campaign with a fourth-place finish. Turkish international Yildiz registered seven goals and five assists in Serie A and was one of few creative sparks in Juve’s attack. Al Ain and Wydad Casablanca both qualified for the tournament by winning their continental competition in the past four years, but neither side has reached those heights in recent months. With limited star power, resolve and solidity will be crucial as they try to qualify for the knockouts.

Group H

Real Madrid (ESP)

Al Hilal (KSA)

Pachuca (MEX)

Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)

Favorite: Real Madrid

Team to Watch: Al Hilal

Young Player: Dean Huijsen, Real Madrid (20)

Red Bull Salzburg won't have it easy in this group (photo courtesy of FIFA)

Real Madrid will consider themselves the favorite in any competition, and president Florentino Perez has made it clear the Spanish giants will be taking the tournament very seriously. New signings Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold will have to shore up a back four that struggled with injury and form towards the end of the season, while new manager Xabi Alonso will look to make a strong first impression. Al Hilal may have the most quality out of any non-European side, with the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and Aleksandar Mitrovic making up the spine of the team. The Saudi champions will be a tough out. Salzburg, like all Red Bull-owned clubs, have a couple of enticing young players. Oscar Gloukh is the current gem of the squad, with the Israeli attacking midfielder offering impressive creativity going forward. Pachuca face an uphill battle, but should expect to have fans on their side against Al Hilal and Salzburg, due to their proximity to the U.S.