Club World Cup: What our reporters made of the group stage – and what could happen next

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With the group stages of the FIFA Club World Cup over, it’s a good time to catch our breath and take stock.

From the searing heat and dodgy pitches, to the major shocks and stars of the future (both in the dugout and on the pitch).

The Athletic asked our reporters covering the tournament to give their assessment of the group stages in the United States and what they want to see in the knockout rounds…

The best team in the group stages

Jack Lang: I was really impressed by Flamengo. They are top of Brazil’s Serie A but they only just made it out of their Copa Libertadores group in May, so it was slightly surprising to see them play with conviction and swagger. They just have some lovely players to watch, including Gerson, Gonzalo Plata and Giorgian de Arrascaeta.

Adam Crafton: I am not sure they are necessarily the best team — so I am not strictly answering the question here — but the team that has impressed me the most have been Flamengo. Their win over Chelsea was one of the most exhilarating games of the tournament. The next round against Bayern Munich may be a test too far but Flamengo should push them hard in the Miami heat. 

Jeff Rueter: The draw gave Manchester City only one real test in a group without a South American foe. They comfortably dispatched Juventus, with the old guard (Erling Haaland and Rodri, above all) doing their bit and fresh faces making a swift impact in a 5-2 win. The only team to win all three of their group games is a worthy front-runner.

Rodri made his first start since September against Juventus (Richard Sellers/Getty Images)

Liam Twomey: This depends on your criteria, but UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain came into this tournament as the presumptive best team and promptly produced the most impressive win of the group stage, dismantling Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the sweltering heat of the Rose Bowl. Defeat against Botafogo dented their aura of invincibility but that game had many of the hallmarks of a freak result. It will take a great performance — probably from a great team — to beat them. 

Mario Cortegana: Despite Manchester City being the only team to take nine points out of nine, I would still rate PSG above them and the rest of the main contenders. Their win against Atletico was impressive. By the end of the tournament, the defeat against Botafogo will be remembered as a brief blip.

Jordan Campbell: It was difficult to read too much into games against Wydad and Al Ain, but Manchester City rediscovered their mojo against Juventus. It was the dominance we were used to seeing under Guardiola for years but there were doubts that he would find a recipe to produce similar form at this tournament. With Ruben Dias and Rodri back, City played with reassurance and the forward players clicked as a result. If they play like that again, only PSG can live with them. 

Felipe Cardenas: Difficult to disagree with Jordan. Manchester City are improving and look as if they are out to prove something. I have been very impressed by all four Brazilian clubs because they have shown an ability to adapt to different opponents and tactics. However, PSG are the European champions and Luis Enrique’s men are a ticking time bomb of attacking football. They’ve been coasting here. PSG are the best team in the world. 

James Horncastle: I don’t know if they were the best team, but Botafogo‘s win against PSG was a big moment. The South American champions beat the European champions. Owner John Textor’s spontaneous interview afterwards, in which he shouted, “VICTOIRE! VICTOIRE!” was fun and pyrrhic. Much was made of his beef with Nasser Al-Khelaifi, so it was quite the comedown when he returned to France and witnessed another of his clubs, Lyon, have their relegation confirmed following a review of their financial situation. 

Botafogo’s Igor Jesus celebrates scoring against PSG (Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images)

The best player

Jack Lang: Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Igor Jesus (Botafogo) and Jorginho (Flamengo) all deserve a mention but I’m going to go a bit more niche here and pick Nelson Deossa of Monterrey. Full disclosure: I had never heard of him before the start of the tournament, but he caught my eye with a brilliant, all-action midfield display in the draw against Inter in Pasadena, then scored a fantastic goal against Urawa Red Diamonds. He’s tall, leggy, unconventional and clearly very talented. 

Adam Crafton: Is Phil Foden BACK? With the World Cup 12 months away, his improvement in form can only be good news for club and country. He has scored twice but only started once, so maybe we shouldn’t really consider him the best player in the group stages. Honourable mentions: Jhon Arias, whose free kick for Fluminense was my favourite goal of the groups, and I am curious to see whether any of the many teams who crave a No 9 take a gamble on Wessam Abou Ali, the 26-year-old Palestinian forward who scored a hat-trick for Al Ahly against Porto in the 4-4 draw. He failed to make an impact in Denmark at the start of his career but for one game on a pretty big stage, he looked a world-beater. 

Jeff Rueter: Monterrey fans should shudder at the thought of trying to go through their group without Esteban Andrada. The 34-year-old Argentine goalkeeper wasn’t overworked, as Rayados’ defensive shape only gave him 10 shots on target to deal with across the three contests, but his stops were crucial. His close-range block from Sebastiano Esposito helped secure a point against Inter, he made six important saves in a scoreless draw with River Plate, and there were another couple of stops as Monterrey finally notched a win against Urawa Red Diamonds. Borussia Dortmund’s forwards will need to pick their spot with real precision in the next round.

Liam Twomey: Jorginho. He only completed his move to Flamengo 10 days before their Club World Cup opener but looks as if he has been playing at the heart of their midfield for years. Every team he represents seems to immediately take on his style in possession. It is also fun to see him finally star for a Brazilian club. 

Mario Cortegana: In the absence of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has confirmed that he can lead a Champions League-winning side, as evidenced by his goal and two assists. PSG are one of the few clubs who can make a €70million (£60m; $82m) signing midway through the season but the Georgian’s performances have been spectacular.

Jordan Campbell: Tijjani Reijnders has been a Rolls-Royce in midfield for Manchester City, Bayern’s Olise has been effortlessly clinical and Fluminense winger Arias was impressive in the opener against Dortmund, but Flamengo captain Giorgian de Arrascaeta is a wonderfully imaginative player. He is technically brilliant and always looks to play forward. The attacking midfielder might be sacrificed as a starter against Bayern but don’t bet against him making a decisive contribution at some stage. 

Felipe Cardenas: Is Arias a midfielder or a second striker? Perhaps he’s a winger. The Colombia international is Fluminense’s do-everything player and he has excelled at this tournament. He was by far the best player on the pitch against Dortmund and has carried that level of performance through the remaining group matches. Take a look at his free kick against Ulsan. Arias is understated but he can do it all.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GOAL BY ARIAS! 😱@FluminenseFC is up 1-0!

Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld pic.twitter.com/EYBDNceWO3

— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 21, 2025

James Horncastle: I enjoyed watching Miguel Merentiel for Boca. At 29, he isn’t going to be the next big thing. He isn’t even the biggest name Uruguayan on the team; Edinson Cavani is and he has been underwhelming this past year. Merentiel, an underdog player for whom it’s hard not to root, has picked up the slack. He scored in Boca’s first couple of games and his goal against Benfica was one of the best of the tournament. 

The best supporters

Jack Lang: From the teams I have seen live, it’s the River Plate supporters. They were incredibly loud and animated throughout the 0-0 draw with Monterrey at the Rose Bowl and it was a similar story in Seattle on Wednesday. Botafogo deserve an honourable mention, as do Monterrey, whose club anthem is still playing in my head.

River Plate’s fans made more of an impact on the Club World Cup than their team (Alex Pantling – FIFA via Getty Images)

Adam Crafton: I absolutely loved my journey to the MetLife Stadium with Palmeiras fans, who, after painting Times Square green and white, then descended onto the trains and buses, singing and dancing their way towards the venue. Some were part of the Brazilian diaspora who live in the New York area, others had saved up and made it a trip of a lifetime. When you spend time with those fans, and see the joy and the passion etched across their faces, it feels faintly ridiculous to see anyone declaring this is a pointless tournament that nobody cares about. 

Jeff Rueter: The opening weekend gave a mixed first impression, with some stale atmospheres and Bayern’s 10-0 pasting of poor Auckland City giving little reason for neutrals to buy into the tournament. Once Boca Juniors’ support took to their temporary home at the Hard Rock Stadium, the spectacle provided sorely needed enthusiasm and legitimacy for what this Club World Cup could mean to fanbases. How cruel that their team couldn’t give a worthy trio of performances to reward their support.

Liam Twomey: With a word of praise for the ES Tunis supporters who brought songs and joy to Philadelphia, it has to be the thousands of Flamengo fans who turned the parking lots outside Lincoln Financial Field into a carnival of Brazilian barbecue tailgate parties, and the stadium itself into a cauldron of noise that helped overwhelm Chelsea. 

Mario Cortegana: I have only been to Real Madrid matches, where the Madridistas have been in the vast majority, with a special mention for the decibel levels they reached in Philadelphia in the 3-0 win against Red Bull Salzburg. From what I’ve seen on television, I was impressed by the intensity of Boca and River fanbases, and the fans of all the South American teams.

Jordan Campbell: Wydad’s fans brought a big presence to Philadelphia, especially considering they had travelled from Morocco. They had plenty of fan meet-ups in the squares around the city but for sheer numbers and noise, Flamengo have been the best I’ve seen. The looks they gave an American employee’s patronising attempt to gee up the crowd outside the stadium in Orlando (three hours before a dead rubber kicked off) will live long in the memory.

Felipe Cardenas: Due to sheer numbers and commitment, Boca’s ultras and travelling band of die-hard fans lit up the tournament. Palmeiras fans were great in Miami, too. They made the match against Inter Miami feel like a proper cup tie. Big shout for Al Ahly supporters, too. 

James Horncastle: Having written about Boca storming Miami Beach, I’d be a hypocrite to go with anyone else. I liked how River fans paid for a plane to fly over the Boca fan gathering to remind them of losing the Copa Libertadores final in 2018 and the Boca fan who went to a River game just to stir things up.   

My bracket pick is…

Jack Lang: This may be a slightly dull answer, but I still find it hard to look past PSG. They are just such a good team and have — apart from a listless first half against Botafogo — looked motivated to build upon their Champions League success. I’ll also be keeping an eye on Flamengo. 

Adam Crafton: I am leaning towards a Manchester City final against PSG, a new-money bonanza that will delight FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his merry band of influencer friends. PSG probably have been the best team in the world this year, but it would be an intriguing recovery by Pep Guardiola’s team if they can navigate their way through it. City are certainly on the kinder side of the bracket. 

Jeff Rueter: Entering the tournament, I’d predicted a final between Bayern Munich and Flamengo. Unfortunately, fate brings them together in the round of 16, as far from the final stage as possible. Whichever team advances from that clash will be my definitive favourite, but given Vincent Kompany’s rotation for their final group game against Benfica, I’ll give Bayern the narrowest of edges.

Michael Olise came on as a substitute in Bayern’s 1-0 defeat against Benfica (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

Liam Twomey: At the risk of contradicting my earlier pick of PSG as the best team, Manchester City look ominous and have a real chance to build momentum on the weaker side of the bracket before they likely face whoever emerges from PSG, Bayern and Real Madrid. It would be great to see Flamengo make it but their path appears too difficult. 

Mario Cortegana: I see a final between PSG and Manchester City, with PSG eliminating Real Madrid in the semi-finals. I was tempted to go with a Champions League final re-match, but City’s improvement puts them ahead of Inter.

Jordan Campbell: Man City to beat PSG or Flamengo in the final. I can’t see Al Hilal or Inter/Fluminense containing City if they can continue the form they showed against Juventus, nor can I see anyone living with PSG on the other side of the draw.

Felipe Cardenas: PSG-Man City in the final. An all-Brazilian final would be great for South America’s claim that they have the best football in the world but expect the top European sides to buckle down in the knockouts.

James Horncastle: I like the side of the draw with Botafogo-Palmeiras, Chelsea-Benfica, Inter-Fluminense and Man City-Al Hilal. It feels like the right half of the bracket to be on. From a Serie A angle, I’d like to see Al Hilal’s Simone Inzaghi meet Inter in the quarters a few weeks after leaving as their head coach. I suspect it won’t happen. More realistically, I agree it will likely be a PSG-City final.

The coach of the tournament

Jack Lang: Filipe Luis. His daring, technical Flamengo side have played some of the best football. He is also such an engaging character, willing to share his thoughts on any topic, in any one of three languages. People are already talking about him as one of the next great coaches, and I can see why. 

Adam Crafton: I am still blown away by what Luis Enrique has done at PSG in an environment that appeared almost impossible, but he has successfully rebuilt a team in his image and they just seem to be getting better and better. Yes, there’s a lot of money there, but also no little wit and intelligence.

Jeff Rueter: Facing PSG in this tournament was never going to be a breeze, especially after their blowout of Atletico. Renato Paiva concocted a bold scheme that saw his Botafogo defend in an aggressively high line and limit PSG’s space. He is a great post-game interview subject, too.

Liam Twomey: I have to echo Jack’s words on Filipe Luis, who is a more charismatic communicator in English than many Premier League coaches I’ve covered and has built a Flamengo team that always looks to play proactively. Their quality and intensity were far too much for Chelsea in Philadelphia and I expect them to give Bayern all they can handle.

Filipe Luis’ Flamengo have been bold and impressive in the U.S. (Franck Fife via Getty Images)

Mario Cortegana: I really like the names mentioned above, but in the spirit of being original and picking what I know best, we should highlight Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard took over a team adrift and, despite injuries and doubts after drawing 1-1 against Al Hilal in their opener, his Real Madrid is already showing what he promised: energy, dynamism, high pressing, tactical flexibility.

Jordan Campbell: What Filipe Luis has created at Flamengo is a real testament to what having a clear coaching vision can do. But Inzaghi, having only taken over at Al Hilal after Inter’s bruising Champions League final defeat, navigated a testing group to emerge undefeated with only one goal conceded. They could have beaten Real Madrid, too, had they been more clinical on the break.  

Felipe Cardenas: Filipe Luis felt like a wild hire when Flamengo gave him the top job. But in today’s world, young coaches with little experience are popular picks for club and country. Look at Lionel Scaloni. The Argentinian changed the game and opened the door for guys like Filipe Luis. The 39-year-old — a former Brazil and Premier League left-back — has not looked overwhelmed on the big stage.

James Horncastle: He has not been the best coach of the group stage by any means but Javier Mascherano deserves a little credit for getting Inter Miami into the knockouts. He probably owes this nomination to his goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari, who was awarded the man-of-the-match award in the goalless opener against Al Ahly.

The best stadium

Jack Lang: I went to five successive games at the Rose Bowl and will take home lots of good memories. OK, yes, it’s a bit annoying to get to. But the setting — that lovely natural amphitheatre formed by the surrounding hills, the mountains in the distance — is incredible and it was great to be at a stadium with its own distinct architecture and history. 

Adam Crafton: They can all look a little strange on broadcast compared to European venues but a lot of the stadiums are spectacular in the flesh. The Hard Rock in Miami Gardens is a pain to get in and out of but decked out in Boca blue and yellow, it looked pretty special. However, nothing beats the Rose Bowl and it is a big shame it will not be involved at the World Cup next year. 

Lee Kang-in converts a penalty for PSG against Atletico at the Rose Bowl (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Jeff Rueter: Benefitting from the temperate climate, with many games kicking off in a downright delightful 75F (24C), Lumen Field has held some magnificent matches in Seattle. The Sounders fared admirably playing in front of their own fans in their usual park, and the grass got rave reviews from the venue’s primary (soccer) tenant. 

Liam Twomey: I have only attended games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field, and the state-of-the-art home of Atlanta United never looks anything less than spectacular, even when it is as disappointingly empty as it was for Chelsea’s opener against LAFC.

Mario Cortegana: I’ve also been to the Hard Rock (Miami), the Bank of America (Charlotte), but I’ll go with the Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia). Reasons? Take your pick: it is the home of the last Super Bowl winners, the temperature was nothing compared to the heat of the two matches I saw further south, the imposing interiors, the atmosphere, at times, had similarities to the Santiago Bernabeu and the thunderstorms thankfully didn’t cause any delays to Real Madrid vs Salzburg.

Jordan Campbell: I’ve been to Financial Lincoln Field in Philadelphia, Camping World Stadium in Orlando and Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta. Considering I’m a bit of a traditionalist and much prefer the character of red brick to the glass bowls that have become the norm, I was surprised by how stunning I found the Mercedes-Benz‘s design. It’s an impressive piece of architecture but perhaps the best thing about it is the air conditioning system. Boy, did I need it.

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s striking exterior (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Felipe Cardenas: Air conditioning, easy public transportation and a stadium campus that features thousands of hotel rooms and enough pubs and restaurants to keep you busy for days. That’s Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The food is cheap for fans and the environment is ideal for a big match.

James Horncastle: I did multiple games at the parking lot otherwise known as the Hard Rock Stadium. I call it a parking lot because it has 26,000 spaces and no public transport. That said, you can understand why Super Bowls and Formula One races have been held in Miami Gardens. The only other ground I visited was the romantically named Camping World Stadium in Orlando. It felt more World Cup 1994 than Club World Cup 2025 and could use a birthday as well as a name change. No one dreams of playing at the Camping World. 

The thing I really hope happens in the knockouts…

Jack Lang: I hope that a club from outside Europe gets to the semi-final stage. It would provide a lot more interest than an ersatz version of the latter stages of the Champions League. A final four of, for instance, Chelsea, Palmeiras, PSG and Monterrey would be so much more intriguing than watching all the usual suspects again. 

Adam Crafton: I do not want to see tens of thousands of empty seats for the rest of the competition. It is a missed opportunity to engage more fans and is unnecessary — the interest is there in many markets to watch top-level soccer. What people have not always had is either the awareness or deep enough pockets, which means FIFA should reduce prices and fill these stadiums. It is hard to navigate the dynamic pricing, a strategy where the cost of tickets can fluctuate depending on demand. For example, when I looked at standard admission tickets for Flamengo vs Bayern (at Hard Rock) on Thursday morning, the cheapest was $170. By the evening, it was $83.65. Maybe this works out, but how these tickets fluctuate so wildly seems pretty wild.

Jeff Rueter: I’ll echo Jack’s point: if this tournament quickly resolves to be a midsummer recreation of the UEFA Champions League, there will be little intrigue. I also hope security for the final at MetLife is better equipped than what we saw before and during last summer’s Copa America final in Miami. 

Liam Twomey: There has been a lot of understandable cynicism and some less justifiable snootiness about this competition from some quarters, but the fundamental reality of football is that if the players take it seriously, everyone else will. I want to see the competitive juices ramp up the intensity in the knockout rounds, because the Champions League has demonstrated time and again that elite knockout club competition is the highest form of the sport. 

Mario Cortegana: Selfishly, I would say that Real Madrid should win, something that would do wonders for a squad and a project that has suffered this season and that wants to revive under Alonso. Looking a little beyond that, a team from outside Europe winning would be remembered for a long time and would enhance the value of future editions.

Jordan Campbell: Flamengo getting to the final would be great for what has been a far more competitive and engaging spectacle than I expected. It is good that there is some variety in the knockouts, with Porto and Atletico already eliminated, but if City or PSG win the final, they probably need to beat some big European names along the way for it to be seen as a proper best-versus-best showpiece. It’s a difficult balance but if Filipe Luis’ men can cause another upset or two, the tournament might have the best of both worlds. 

Felipe Cardenas: We need a Cinderella story. The tournament needs an upset in the knockout rounds. I’m looking at you, Fluminense. 

James Horncastle: I don’t know how I feel about the prospect of Inter Miami and Messi getting pummelled by PSG. It could get brutal. 

Top photos: Getty Images

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