FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP: MATCHWEEK ONE REVIEW

The new style FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicked off in the United States, we had everything from goals to VAR decisions and even weather problems! Here is a breakdown of everything from matchweek one in the States.

Group A

Inter Miami 0 - 0 Al Ahly SC

Goalkeepers impress as opening game draws a blank.

Though the spotlight ahead of this game was fully on Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi ahead of their first ever Club World Cup game, it was the two goalkeepers that stole the limelight.

The first half was dominated possession-wise by Miami but they were caught on the counter attack by the Egyptian Champions, Al Ahly, on multiple occasions, highlighting how poor Miami have been defensively in MLS. If not for Miami’s 38-year-old keeper, Oscar Ustari, Ahly would’ve been 3-0 up by half time.

The biggest moment of the game came when Al Ahly won a penalty a couple of minutes before half time after Telasco Segovia clipped Zizo in the box. However, Ustari’s impeccable game continued as he saved former Aston Villa winger, Trezeguet’s, penalty.

While the first half was about Ustari, the second was about Al Ahly’s keeper, Mohammed En Shenawi. He made four brilliant saves to deny Miami a famous win, first denying Allende from point blank range, then saving a header which looked certain to go in from Fafa Picaut.

En Shenawi's last two saves in added time were the best ones, pushing a shot from an impossible angle by Leo Messi onto the bar before from the following corner, saving the final chance of the match.

FC Porto 0 - 0 Palmeiras

Wonderkids shine in goalless draw.

The first matchweek brought no goals from either game in Group A, however the main talking point from this game was the performances of two 18-year-old stars on either side; Estevao for Palmeiras and Rodrigo Mora for FC Porto.

Estevao should’ve had a goal in the first half but unfortunately his second touch took him wider than he wanted while 1v1 with the defender. For Porto, Mora created a brilliant opportunity for striker Samu which he was unable to convert, the Portuguese also completed the most dribbles in the game with three.

Elsewhere, Richard Rios had a brilliant game for Palmeiras in midfield and was unlucky not to have scored after Porto keeper Claudio Ramos made a stunning double save on first half added time before the third chance was cleared off the line.

Despite the draw, both will believe that they have what it takes to get through to the knockout stages.

Group B

Paris Saint-Germain 4 - 0 Atletico Madrid

European Champions get revenge on Atleti

After coming off another quadruple which included their first ever UEFA Champions League title, Luis Enrique’s PSG headed to the FIFA Club World Cup as one of the outright favourites to win, something they confirmed at one of the USA’ s most famous sports stadiums, the Rose Bowl.

The European Champions continued on where they left off in Munich taking the lead 19 minutes in courtesy of a strike into the bottom corner from Fabian Ruiz.

Atletico could’ve equalised just before half time when Griezmann scuffed a shot. Then from the following counter attack, Vitinha doubled PSG’s lead.

Julian Alvarez then thought he had pulled one back in the 58th minute with a tidy finish across Donnarumma but VAR disallowed it for a foul by Koke on Desire Doue.

Clement Lenglet received a red card on 77 minutes for something he said to the ref, making the away side’s job much more challenging Alexander Sorloth then put an open goal tap in over the bar, which highlighted how it was not Atleti’s day at all.

The second youngest ever UCL final goalscorer, Senny Mayulu, became the youngest ever FIFA CWC goalscorer when he made it 3-0. Lee Kang finished the job in the 97th minute when VAR awarded PSG a penalty for a handball.

A statement victory from Europe’s best at the Rose Bowl.

Botafogo RJ 2 - 1 Seattle Sounders

Brazilian boys beat unlucky hometown heroes.

Seattle Sounders had the honour of being the only team in the competition to have home advantage in all of their group games with them being played at Lumen Field, however the counter side was that they were drawn into the group of death facing the UCL and Libertadores winners as well as Atlético.

It was the Libertadores winners Botafogo that took the lead when Jair Cunha turned in a header from former West Ham and Lazio winger, Felipe Anderson’s, free kick. One became two when Nottingham Forest bound, Igor Jesus produced a second headed goal in the game which left Stefan Frei scrambling.

However it was like a flip switched in the second half and the Sounders came out flying but were unable to find that golden touch. It wasn’t until a shot deflected off midfield rock, Cristan Roldan, that Seattle and Lumen Field had belief. Seconds after a header from Roldan was tipped onto the bar.

The best chance to equalise came in the 93rd minute when keeper John Victor made a scrambling save before De la Vega had a shot blocked and held by the Brazilian.

A proud effort from the MLS boys but the class of Botafogo was too much in the end.

Group C

Bayern Munich 10 - 0 Auckland City

Auckland battered and bruised in record breaking style.

In this new format, Auckland were the most unique team purely because they are the only semi-pro team in the tournament, certain players have had to use annual leave and unpaid leave to come to the USA but with the opportunity to play against Bayern, Boca and Benfica, it seems a trip well worth it.

The gulf in class showed as Bundesliga champions and one of the favourites for the tournament in Bayern put a record breaking ten goals past them.

Coman and Olise got first half braces, Tah got his first goal in Bavarian colours.

Thomas Muller marked his Bayern farewell with two goals, he could be playing in the USA soon with rumours linking him to MLS.

Boey got a goal too while Jamal Musiala scored the first hattrick of the tournament.

Though it was 6-0 at half time, Auckland will take pride in having lasted 20 minutes without conceding at the start of the second half.

Benfica 2 - 2 Boca Juniors

Benfica and Boca play out thriller at the Hard Rock.

The first European vs South America clash did not disappoint as Portugal’s Benfica and Argentine giants Boca Juniors put on the game of the tournament so far.

Ironically it was an Argentine from Benfica that gave Boca the lead when Miguel Merential’s header was deflected off Nicolas Otamendi. The lead doubled when Battaglia headed home.

Benfica were crumbling but then the chaos began. The defender committed a lazy challenge to give away a pen and injured sub Ander Herrera was sent off for angry protests towards the officials. Di Maria converted the spot kick.

While chasing the game at 2-1, a crazy moment saw Andrea Bellotti sent off for kicking a defender in the head, completely jeopardising his team's chances of securing a result with an incredibly reckless challenge.

However, 84 minutes in and Otamendi made up for the own goal with a header of his own for 2-2. Jorge Figal then took the Argentine aggression over the line as he was sent off for a rough shoulder barge.

Despite the chaos, 2-2 was how it finished and probably the deserved score in the end.

Group D

Chelsea 2 - 0 LAFC

Chelsea open CWC with win over LAFC in half filled Atlanta.

Chelsea opened their FIFA CWC accounts with a 2-0 victory over MLS side Los Angeles FC. The main point of the game was that the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia was only partially filled.

The main issue in this was the game taking place at 3pm ET on a working Monday and also in Atlanta so LAFC couldn’t really bring fans either.

Onto the football and Pedro Neto gave Chelsea the lead after a chop back fooled the defender and he fired past Hugo Lloris near post. The Conference League Champions sealed the deal when new signing Liam Delap put a cross on a plate for Enzo Fernandez.

Flamengo 2 - 0 Esperance de Tunis

Flamengo east past Esperance.

Brazilian Serie A leaders Flamengo began their Club World Cup game with a 2-0 win over Tunisia champions Esperance. Goals from Giorgian De Arrasceta and Luis Araujo in both halves were enough to secure all three points.

The result ensured that South American sides were still unbeaten in the tournament.

Group E

River Plate 3 - 1 Urawa Red Diamonds

River beat Urawa in close contest.

Though this seemed like a nail on win for River, it was actually a very enjoyable game as Urawa made it quite difficult for the Argentine giants.

Though they were 2-0 up 48 minutes in thanks to strikes from Colido and Driussi, a lazy challenge from Acuna gave a penalty to the Japanese side which Yusuke Matsuo converted, and Urawa began to push.

However a punch bounced off the head of Max Meza and into the River goal for 3-1.

Monterrey 1 - 1 Inter

Sergio Ramos stuns new-look Inter.

It had been a nightmare few weeks for Inter, missing out on the Scudetto on the final day to Napoli before a record breaking 5-0 loss to PSG in Munich. Inzaghi then left for Al Hilal meaning that Parma manager Cristian Chivu became boss.

Funnily enough it was a former PSG player that put Mexican side Monterrey in front of Sergio Ramos. It was a bullet header reminiscent of the one in added time in the 2014 UCL final against Atletico to save La Demica.

A well worked free kick from Inter meant that Renato Augusto laid off a tap in to Lautaro Martinez. The striker should’ve won the game towards the end when Di Marco poked the ball towards him but he fired over from five yards out.

Group F

Fluminense 0 - 0 Borussia Dortmund

Kobel double save helps Dortmund scrape through Fluminense with a point.

Dortmund’s start to the Club World Cup was a slow one as they looked sluggish and poor against Brazilian side Fluminense.

Both sides created good chances and came close to breaking the deadlock. The best chance of the game fell to Fluminense when keeper Gregor Kobel was forced to make a double save for the German side in order to secure a point.

Jobe Bellingham came off the bench to make his Dortmund debut after Sunderland received a club record fee for him just a few weeks after securing promotion to the Premier League.

Ulsan HD 0 - 1 Mamelodi Sundowns

Sundowns secure first ever win for an African side at the FIFA Club World Cup.

This was a game between two teams which the majority of people watching the FIFA Club World Cup had not seen before but it was a very enjoyable one as the Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa secured the first ever victory for a team from Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup.

The game had been delayed for 65 minutes just as kickoff was about to happen because of storms in Orlando, this would be the first of a few weather delays to take place over the next few days at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Iqraam Rayners was the star man for Sundowns as he could’ve had a hattrick in this game. His first goal came from a goalmouth scramble but unfortunately for him it was ruled out for a handball.

Rayners did get his goal when Lucas Ribeiro played him through and he slotted the ball past Ulsan HD keeper Hyeon-Woo Jo. His third strike was ruled out as Rayners had strayed offside.

Ulsan HD came close to equalising right at the end if not for some brilliant work from the Mamelodi Sundowns defender to clear the ball. A special Sundowns moment in Orlando.

Group G

Manchester City 2 - 0 Wydad Casablanca

Changed Manchester City side ease past Wydad.

Looking to try and get back to title contention after a poor season last year which saw them finish 13 points behind champions Liverpool, Pep Guardiola went and spent big on Reijnders from Milan, Cherki from Lyon and Rayan Ait Nouri from Wolves.

However despite the new signings looking to impress, it was one of City’s own that needed to impress himself that got them up and running. Phil Foden finished a shot from Savinho parried into his path by the goalkeeper. It was the quickest ever goal at a FIFA Club World Cup.

Wydad came back at Manchester City with a few chances of their own but lacked a clear clinical edge.

The Blues then doubled the lead when a Foden corner was turned into by Jeremy Doku for his first Manchester City goal since a 6-0 win at Ipswich Town back in January.

This game also saw Rodri get 30 minutes, his longest since his ACL injury back in September 2024 against Arsenal.

City were reduced to ten men in a quite unlucky way as Rico Lewis made a tackle but unfortunately caught the Wydad player with his foot, really it should’ve been overturned but it wasn’t.

Al-Ain 0 - 5 Juventus

Juventus’ five-star showing blows Al-Ain away.

After a tough Serie A season which saw them only finish fourth, the Old lady began the CWC with five goals against Al-Ain.

Randal Kolo Muani got a first half brace while Portugal’s Nations League winner Chico Conceicao picked up where he left off in Munich by scoring a curling finish almost identical to the equaliser against Germany that he scored in the Nations League semi finals.

Young Turkish star, Kenan Yildiz also got in the pick of the goals as Juventus sit top of Group G and look well on their way to qualify for the knockouts already.

Group H

Pachuca 1 - 2 RB Salzburg

Salzburg beat Pachuca in another weather delayed game.

Salzburg beat Mexican side Pacucha 2-1 in a game which saw the final 40 minutes or so delayed by 100 minutes due to storms in Cincinnati.

Before the delay however, Salzburg took the lead when Oscar Gloukh fired a shot into the top right hand corner right on half time.

Pacucha equalised from Bryan Gonzalez just a minute after the very long weather delay.

Substitute Karim Onsiwo won it for Salzburg in the 76th minute.

Real Madrid 1 - 1 Al-Hilal

Xabi Alonso begins Real Madrid reign with Al-Hilal draw.

After a trophyless season in 24/25, Madrid came to the FIFA Club World cup looking to get back to the top of world football. Ancelotti went to Brazil and in came Xabi Alonso as manager.

Los Blancos also bolstered their squad with three major signings, Franco Mastantuono from River Plate (who will join post CWC), then for the tournament itself, Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth and former Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander Arnold on what was originally a free but Madrid played £10 million to have him for the group stages.

Madrid opened the scoring after a quick counter attack saw Rodrygo slide the ball into 21 year old Gonzalo Garcia who managed to get the ball past Bono.

Al Hilal, under new management in Simeone Inzaghi, levelled the match after Raul Asencio gave a penalty away which Ruben Neves converted. Neves scored the winning penalty in the nations league final just a few weeks prior.

Madrid got a penalty in added time after a controversial foul on Fran Garcia which did look extremely soft but Fede Valverde was denied by Bono so 1-1 is how it finished.

TEAM OF THE MATCHWEEK

4-3-3

GK - Oscar Ustari (Inter Miami)

Brilliant performance to keep a clean sheet including saving a penalty

LB- Marcos Acuna (River Plate)

Two assists in the 3-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds

CB - Sergio Ramos (Monterrey)

Brilliant header to give the Mexican side the lead in the 1-1 draw with Inter

CB - Thiago Silva (Fluminense)

At 40 years old he put in a vintage performance that we’ve seen so often over the years against a very good Dortmund attack.

RB- Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)

Scored the equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors, made up for the own goal mistake earlier in the match.

CM - Vitinha (PSG)

A goal capped off a brilliant performance which saw him complete 112/114 passes which is an accuracy of 98% during their 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid.

CM- Luis Araujo (Flamengo)

Araujo recorded a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win for the Brazilian side against Esperance de Tunis.

CM- Jamal Musiala (FC Bayern Munchen)

Anyone could’ve got it in their 10-0 win over Auckland really but it makes sense to give it to the hat-trick hero Jamal Musiala who came off the bench in the second half to record the first hat-trick of the competition.

LW - Chico Conceicao (Juventus)

A brilliant goal and assist in the 5-0 win over Al Ain, Chico is this week’s pick ahead of Kolo Munai for the team of the week spot.

RW- Phil Foden (Manchester City)

After a tough season, Foden began his CWC campaign with the quickest goal in tournament history and an assist for Doku to help Manchester City to a 2-0 win.

ST- Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns)

It would’ve been the easy choice to go with another striker like Kolo Muani or Igor Jesus for Botafogo, but Rayners helped Mamelodi Sundowns to achieve Africa football history and deserves a spot for that alone.

Club of the Week: Bayern Munich

Ten goals in one game is a record at the FIFA Club World Cup, which means that Bayern Munich is quite an easy choice for the club of the week.