The draw for the Club World Cup brought mixed fortunes for the Spanish teams that will compete in the tournament between 15 June and 13 July 2025. While Real Madrid were drawn in Group H and have Salzburg, Al Hilal and Pachuca as their rivals in the first phase, Atletico were drawn in the group of death. To begin with, they were drawn in the most distant venue from Europe (Seattle) and their opponents will be PSG, Botafogo (current Copa Libertadores champions) and the local team, Seattle Sounders
The route of Madrid
Real Madrid will begin their participation in the tournament against Al Hilal and Neymar and will play their second match against Mexican side Pachuca. The group will be closed against Salzburg, with whom the Spanish side were also drawn in the Champions League. It is a group in which, in theory, Real Madrid should have no problems qualifying as group winners. They are certainly the clear favourites
Atletico Madrid, first against PSG
The red and white team will make their debut in the tournament against PSG, and then play their second match against Seattle Sounders. The final match of the first phase will be against Botafogo. It is a complicated group, but one that will lead to more accessible matches against Group A, which includes Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly and Leo Messi’s Inter Miami
Inter Miami will open the tournament
The Club World Cup will open on June 15 at the Hard Rock in Miami with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami taking on Egypt’sAl Ahly. It is not the most attractive clash in a group in which the Argentine’s team has a chance of reaching the round of 16. It is not an impossible group, withPalmeiras and Portocompleting the group. It should be remembered that Atletico Madrid would face these teams in the round of 16
Historic group with Bayern
If Group B is the group of death, then Group C can be called the group of the historical giants, with Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors, Benfica and Auckland City. Bayern and Benfica are the clear favorites to be in the next round, but the Argentine side should not be overlooked, as they will surely have a good number of fans
Two groups without glamour
The draw also left two groups of a lower level. These are the cases of Group D with Flamengo, Chelsea, Leon of Mexico and Esperance of Tunisia and Group F with Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Guardiola against Juventus and Inter-River
Manchester City were drawn in Group G, which also includes Juventus, Morocco’s Wydad and Al Ain. The peculiarity of this group is that it will face Real Madrid’s group in the round of 16
The draw was completed with Group E, which features a great match between Inter and River, completed by Monterrey and Urawa Red Diamonds
