Club World Cup Daily: Monterrey advance as River Plate crash out

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is off and running, and has produced plenty of talking points and storylines already. Let's catch you up on what's happening, what you've missed and what's still to come.

We will update this file throughout each matchday with the latest reporting, analysis and fun from the competition.

The lead: Monterrey smash Urawa, pip River Plate

PASADENA -- Monterrey got the job done. Domènec Torrent's side didn't worry about what was happening in Group E's other match between River Plate and Internazionale, instead focusing on Urawa Red Diamonds and soundly defeating them 4-0 to secure their place in the round of 16.

The Rose Bowl didn't have a large attendance -- just 14,312 fans -- but the atmosphere in the stands was celebratory. The Japanese fans were an example of loyalty and love for their team, singing throughout the match, constantly supporting them, and, despite the score, applauding their club's every move.

The Monterrey fans, meanwhile, once again made the Rose Bowl feel like their home stadium, taking advantage of the $19 ticket price, which seemed too little considering the spectacle.

In the end, Monterrey's win -- along with River's 2-0 loss to Inter Milan -- secured second place in the group. Their next opponent will be Borussia Dortmund in Atlanta on July 1, a match where Rayados will surely feel at home again. -- Ricardo Cariño

Today's top Club World Cup news

• Madrid star Mbappé back in training
• Connelly: Why every last-16 team will, won't win
• Modric to join Milan after Club World Cup

Sights and sounds around FIFA Club World Cup

Sun sets on Sundowns' impressive CWC showing

MIAMI GARDENS -- Mamelodi Sundowns stunned spectators at Hard Rock Stadium, managing a 0-0 draw against Brazilian giants Fluminense. Despite their best efforts and several moments of dominance on the field, however, the South African team fell just one point short of qualifying to the knockout round of the Club World Cup.

Though their Club World Cup journey came to a close on Wednesday, Mamelodi left their mark. They entered the tournament as a mystery to many and overlooked by almost all as Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense dominated the Group F narrative. But once the tournament kicked off, the team immediately made headlines and stole the spotlight on and off the field.

The South African side beat Ulsan HD 1-0 and shook up Borussia Dortmund with a narrow 4-3 defeat before entering the final group stage match of the competition with hopes of making the round of 16. They kicked off the match stronger than their Brazilian opponent and continued to control the ball as the game progressed. By the 55th minute, Sundowns had three shots on goal to the Brazilian team's zero, while holding 71% possession. At the final whistle, the Sundowns had recorded seven total shots; 554 passes, compared with Fluminense's 258; and 68% possession. The attack tested Fluminense goalkeeper Fábio, forcing him into game-changing saves in the first half.

In the stands, the team's supporters were small in numbers but mighty in energy. Though outnumbered and often out-sung by Fluminense fans at Hard Rock Stadium, the group of 50 or so Sundowns fans dressed in yellow and green continued to rejoice. The group chanted with accompanying choreography and drumbeat, creating a contagious atmosphere that inspired nearby neutral spectators to join in the singing and dancing. A couple Mamelodi Sundowns fans wore decorative headdresses with sequins and feathers, eager to show their support for their team.

The Club World Cup is intended to give teams from around the globe a stage to shine, and Mamelodi Sundowns capitalized on the opportunity by showing international spectators their talent. Despite Sundowns' early exit, each passing performance grew the team's international reputation, and gained some fans along the way. -- Lizzy Becherano

Ribeiro picks Flamengo to upset the odds

MIAMI GARDENS -- Mamelodi Sundowns forward Lucas Ribeiro believes Flamengo are the best-placed Brazilian club to go far at the Club World Cup, despite being set to face Bayern Munich in the round of 16.

"Without a doubt, Flamengo," the Brazilian -- who curiously supports Palmeiras -- said after Wednesday's 0-0 draw against Fluminense in Miami.

"They are playing very well, Filipe [Luís, Flamengo's head coach] has a lot of experience, he has played in Europe and knows how to adapt.

"I believe Flamengo will go very far, even though they will face Bayern."

Flamengo qualified for the next round as winners of Group D after wins over Espérance (2-0) and Chelsea (3-1), and draw with LAFC (1-1). The game against Bundesliga champions Bayern will be next Sunday in Miami. -- Jean Santos, ESPN Brazil

Dortmund get the job done

There's a real sense that the top European teams are pacing themselves in this Club World Cup, and rightly so considering the oft-repeated lines about this being their offseason, how tired they are, the heat being ridiculous, and so on. None of the UEFA contingent might embody this more than Borussia Dortmund, who carefully played their way to a sedate 1-0 win over Ulsan HD at Cincinnati's TQL Stadium -- a result that ensures they finish top of Group E. Their reward: extra rest, with their round-of-16 game the final one of the slate on July 1 in Atlanta (a stadium with a roof and air conditioning), and a likely date with River Plate or Monterrey.

Daniel Svensson notched the game's only goal about 10 minutes before half-time after Ulsan tried (and failed) to play out from their penalty area. The loose ball spilled into Jobe Bellingham's path inside the box, and he calmly squared it for the Swedish winger to casually fire beyond a wrong-footed Jo Hyeon-Woo. Dortmund barely broke a sweat throughout but did pepper the Ulsan goal to the tune of 28 shots (11 on target), forcing a superb performance from Jo (10 saves, preventing 2.01 xG) under the sweltering midafternoon Midwestern heat.

We also got a glimpse of oft-injured and oft-out of favor U.S. playmaker Giovanni Reyna, who enjoyed his first minutes of the Club World Cup in a 12-minute cameo that saw him complete just four passes. (Remember this for trivia purposes should it prove to be, as everyone suspects, his final appearance for the Bundesliga side before yet another summer restart elsewhere.)

Yan Couto, Bellingham and Julien Duranville all caused havoc but couldn't double Dortmund's lead, while Ulsan simply couldn't get the ball in a bid for a face-saving comeback, having less than 30% of the ball in the final quarter-hour amid a raft of late substitutions for both sides. Dortmund will need to be much sharper from here if they're to make a deep run and collect more of this competition's prodigious prize purse, especially with a run to the final that could include Manchester City or Real Madrid in the quarterfinals and (perhaps) Paris Saint-Germain in the semis. That said, one will imagine manager Niko Kovac is pleased with the quiet crescendo of his team amid a difficult rebuild. There's still plenty of work to be done if they're to truly demonstrate they're "back" as a force in Europe, but this isn't a bad start. -- James Tyler

Delap's relief at scoring first Chelsea goal

PHILADELPHIA -- Liam Delap needed only three appearances to score his first Chelsea goal but admitted his "relief" at getting off the mark with Benfica up next for the Blues on Saturday in the round of 16.

The £30 million summer signing from Ipswich Town found the net with a smart 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, too, given Nicolas Jackson is suspended against Benfica after picking up a two-game ban for his red card against Flamengo.

play

0:58

Maresca 'proud' of Chelsea making it to last 16 of CWC

Enzo Maresca speaks on Chelsea making it to the last 16 of the Club World Cup, as well as how Liam Delap has settled into the Chelsea squad.

Said Delap: "I came in to score goals, and to get the first one over and done with is a great feeling. There's always a little bit of relief and then you feel more confidence, and coming to a club like this, you have to have confidence and belief."

Benfica will represent a considerably tougher test, and although it comes early in Delap's time at Chelsea, it is a task he is relishing.

"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 really excited," he said. "This tournament has really helped me settle in, because if we were back at the training ground, everyone would be disappearing at 3 o'clock. Here, we're all together all the time and it's a great way to settle in. Everyone's been really helpful." -- James Olley

No break for RB Salzburg

RB Salzburg are within touching distance of a place in the knockout stages and could even qualify from Group H with a defeat against Real Madrid on Friday if the game between Al Hilal and Pachuca fails to produce a winner. However, amid all the noise from the teams in the major European leagues about burnout and lack of rest, Salzburg's workload would probably send most of the Premier League and LaLiga stars into meltdown.

The Austrian team ended its domestic season with a 4-2 win against Rapid Vienna on May 24 and began its Club World Cup campaign against Pachuca a mere 25 days later. But while the English, Spanish, French, Italian and German teams at the Club World Cup are set to give their players a break after the tournament, in preparation for the new season in August, Salzburg start their Champions League qualification campaign against Norway's SK Brann on July 23. And before Thomas Letsch's team plays the second leg seven days later, they must face Union Procon Dietach in the Austrian Cup on July 26.

If Salzburg make it to the Club World Cup knockout stages -- they'd need at least a draw against Real Madrid on Thursday night to have a chance -- their prospects of a break seem nonexistent. -- Mark Ogden

Guardiola in good spirits

ORLANDO -- Pep Guardiola is coming off the worst season of his managerial career. But after arriving in the U.S. for the Club World Cup, sources close to him have insisted he's returned to work happy and content and it certainly looks like that.

He was captured playing two-touch on the beach with some of his players ahead of the Group G decider against Juventus in Orlando on Thursday. At the end of his news conference at Camping World Stadium on Wednesday, he ended his time on the top table by saying: "Thank you, it was an honour as always to be in front of you."

News conferences with Guardiola can sometimes be spiky, particularly when it's clear he doesn't want to be there. But in his media appearances in the U.S., he's cut a relaxed figure. He's shared jokes with reporters and not seem too concerned about difficult topics like the conditions in the U.S. or FIFA's three-match suspension handed down to Rico Lewis.

The message from Guardiola has been about this tournament being a fresh start and he's doing everything he can to ram it home. He doesn't seem burdened by last season's poor campaign at all, but rather excited about the coming weeks and months. It's a good omen for City as they look to bounce back. -- Rob Dawson

play

1:24

Pep Guardiola and Man City relax with some beach football

Pep Guardiola joins his Man City players in a game of beach football, during some downtime between Club World Cup clashes.

García happy to walk in the footsteps of Madrid's greats

PHILADELPHIA -- Gonzalo García is only 21, but he's already been coached by two of Real Madrid's all-time greats: Raúl González with the club's reserve team, Castilla, and now Xabi Alonso. García scored 25 goals for Raul's Castilla last season, and here at the Club World Cup, he's continued that form wlth Alonso's first team. With Kylian Mbappé ill, and Endrick injured, García has stood out in attack.

"[Raul] sent me a nice message after the [Al Hilal] game, congratulating me for my goal," García told journalists at Lincoln Financial Field on Wednesday, ahead of Madrid's game with Salzburg. "They're both totally different coaches, but they're both Madridistas. They know what it means to wear this shirt."

Madrid have been open to the idea of bringing in an affordable, "Plan B"-type centre forward this summer, a player they lacked last season. The idea: to sign "another Joselu" who was so important to the squad in 2023-24. Could García be that forward, developed in-house?

"Joselu was a great player, a role model for me," García said. "I spoke to him the other day. It makes me proud, being compared to him. I'd never have imagined it."

It's a high bar. Joselu scored twice in a Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich. So far García has scored against Al Hilal, and provided an assist against Pachuca. But he's enjoying the moment.

"I'm happy to have this experience, to wear the best shirt in the world," he said, smiling. "It's a dream."

Match previews, odds for Thursday

Juventus vs. Manchester City (Group G; Orlando, Fla., 3 p.m. ET)

Odds (via ESPN BET): Juventus (+350), Draw (+270), Man City (-130)

After two games against modest opposition, it's hard to know where Manchester City are at. There are new players and new coaches. But is this truly a fresh start, or are the issues that dogged them last year last still there? The Group G decider against Juventus should tell us a lot.

Pep Guardiola played two different XIs against Wydad AC and Al Ain -- the team he picks against Juventus should be a clear indication of how keen he is to win this tournament. Will Rúben Dias and Rodri get their first starts in a strong team, or will it be more rotation to manage minutes?

With an impressive performance and a win against Juventus, City would become one of the favorites. Lose or draw -- thus setting up a potential last-16 tie against Real Madrid -- and they could be facing an early flight home. Thursday's game at Camping World Stadium should answer a lot of questions. -- Rob Dawson

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

Odds: Wydad AC (+140), Draw (+250), Al-Ain (+175)

Wydad's incredible, energetic traveling support has been one of the highlights of the Club World Cup, which makes it such a shame that neither they nor Thursday's opponents, Al Ain, have any possible path to advance to the round of 16 given results to date.

In the end, Wydad's energy and commitment to numbers in attack gave both Man City and Juventus a brief fright, but both teams had the quality and composure to pick through. Expect a similar gusto at Audi Field from them and, perhaps, a few goals: Only Auckland City FC (17) have conceded more than Al Ain (11) in this competition to date. -- Tyler

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

Odds: Al Hilal (-160), Draw (+333), Pachuca (+380)

After holding Real Madrid to a draw in the opener, expectations were high for Simone Inzaghi's Al Hilal and the scoreless draw with Salzburg was greeted with disappointment back home (even though, arguably, Al Hilal did enough to win). To advance -- and become Asia's only representative in the knockout stage -- a win over Pachuca is non-negotiable for the recently arrived former Inter Mialn boss. If they can do it by two goals or more, they'll get the job done and Inzaghi's Arabian Adventure will get off on the best possible foot. -- Gab Marcotti

FC Salzburg vs. Real Madrid (Group H; Philadelphia, Penn., 9 p.m. ET)

Odds: FC Salzburg (+700), Draw (+500), Real Madrid (-380)

Kylian Mbappé returned to Real Madrid training on Wednesday after a week recovering from gastroenteritis, but he hasn't traveled to make his tournament debut against Salzburg, staying behind in Palm Beach. In his absence, young forward Gonzalo García has done more than enough -- with a goal and assist so far -- to continue up front if Mbappé isn't ready to start.

This game is another opportunity for new coach Xabi Alonso to get closer to the kind of Madrid team he wants to see, after defender Raúl Asencio's early red card against Pachuca meant Alonso's tactical gameplan had to be torn up after just seven minutes. New arrival Dean Huijsen has impressed so far, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has made steady progress. Antonio Rüdiger could start alongside them in defense, having come off the bench against Pachuca. And there'll be eyes on Rodrygo -- with speculation over his future this summer -- after he didn't play a single minute in that game in Charlotte.

As for low-profile Salzburg, they've put themselves in a decent position, with four points from two games so far. The result here, and in Al Hilal vs. Pachuca, will determine if they progress to the last 16. -- Alex Kirkland