WeeklySA_AdminEXTRAVAGANZA: MASANDAWANA KICK OFF 2025 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP AGAINST SOUTH KOREAN GIANTS …
By Ali Mphaki
Mamelodi Sundowns find themselves in unfamiliar territory in Florida, US, with the only thing resembling home being the name Orlando, the city where they are holed in as they prepare for their first match against South Korean giants Ulsan HD 6pm in America but 12 midnight South African time.
Played under a new format, the 32-team month-long tournament will now take place once every four years rather than annually, where in this chapter Sundowns find themselves in Group F pitted with Brazil’s Fluminense, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, and Ulsan HD.
The maiden edition of the new-look Club World Cup will feature clubs from 20 different countries, and adding to the excitement is a dramatically increased prize pool, now totaling $1 billion.
Teams from each of the six international football confederations will be at the Club World Cup: Asia (AFC), Africa (Caf), North and Central America (Concacaf), South America (Conmebol), Oceania (OFC) and Europe (Uefa). The revamped Club World Cup will run in a similar way to the international men’s and women’s World Cups.
The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four, who will play each other once in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will then go through to the knockout stages.
Unlike the international World Cups, the Club World Cup will have no third-place play-off.
The final will take place on July 13, 2025.
All matches will be held in the United States, a year before the country co-hosts the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
Fixtures are set to be played in 12 different stadiums. Kicking-off their first match of the tournament ‘Downs will face a strong contender from the AFC, bringing Asian football excellence to the global stage.
The K League 1 heavyweights Ulsan HD are five-time domestic winners at home, famously won the 2012 and 2020 AFC Champions League seasons with an unbeaten record and will hope they can draw upon such success in a fascinating group that pits them against heavyweights from three other continents. The edge seems to favor the home side, Ulsan Hyundai, with a solid home record and decent recent form of W-D-W-D-L, are well-positioned to leverage their home advantage.
On the other hand, ‘Downs are the only team from their nation to fly the flag for CAF at the event before, and they arrive at the expanded edition nine years after they last played.
The Pretoria outfit are outsiders in Group F but recently won the South African national championship an eighth consecutive time.
However, despite their great performance streak, typically struggle away from home turf. Their last official game was a loss at the Africa Champions League final against Egypt’s Pyramid FC in Cairo in May.
Their Portuguese coach, Miguel Cardoso, has challenged his players to adapt to not dominating possession as they normally would. “Our possession can be 70 percent, sometimes even more,” he told the South African media before departing for North America with a 26-strong squad.
This is an intriguing opening game between a South Korean side and a South African outfit who have grown accustomed to racking up titles.
Sundowns are likely to be denied the share of possession they usually enjoy domestically and this one could end honours even in an entertaining clash.
With all expert tips unanimously predicting a home victory and Ulsan’s robust defensive lineup, Ulsan is poised to clinch the win on their own so-called soil at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Sundowns second match will be against Fluminense on June 22 at 7am at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The final group-stage match against Borussia Dortmund will take place on June 26 at 4am at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Sleep is likely to be a luxury for the hordes of ‘Downs fans in South Africa as they follow their teams’ exploits at the Fifa Club World Cup.
Walala wasala!
Sundowns Players;
Ronwen Williams, Denis Onyango, Reyaad Pieterse, Khuliso Mudau, Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Divine Lunga, Grant Kekana, Malibongwe Khoza, Mothobi Mvala, Keanu Cupido, Mosa Lebusa, Marcelo Allende, Jayden Adams, Themba Zwane, Sphelele Mkhulise, Neo Maema, Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas, Peter Shalulile, Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Iqraam Rayners, Arthur Sales, Tashreeq Matthews, Lebo Mothiba, Kutlwano Letlhaku.
