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FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Neuer remaining optimistic despite Bayern defeat...
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Bayern fell to Benfica 1-0 in their Group C finale in Charlotte
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They will next face Brazilian giants Flamengo in the Round of 16
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Neuer expects to the German giants to play with more intensity
Disappointment was evident on the faces of FC Bayern München as they departed Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, and with good reason. After a sparkling start to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ with victories over Auckland City FC and CA Boca Juniors, Bayern succumbed 1-0 to SL Benfica in their Group C finale to finish second in the group.
The German giants were plagued by a slow start, as Benfica tallied a first half goal that held until the final whistle. Despite pegging the Portuguese back deep in their own half for much of the second stanza, the equaliser never arrived, leaving goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and his team-mates frustrated at the second-place finish.
Yet the incisive nature of the Bayern attack after the introductions of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich at half-time suggests that it was simply a day in which luck was not on their side. If anything, Neuer, is taking confidence from their performance in the second 45 and believes it will suit them well the rest of the way.
“The start of the first half wasn't that good, but you saw another team in the second half with the tempo we played, the possession we had and how we defended as well,” said Neuer to FIFA. “It was much better than how we started in the first half and I think the intensity was much higher. If we play the ball quick, if we have high-tempo actions, we create a lot of chances, but we missed the momentum today and that was the key.
“Of course, [Anatoliy] Trubin was a great goalkeeper today and he performed very well. We missed the situation where Harry [Kane] was in offside, it was a great shot from Joshua [Kimmich], but all these little things and details created the loss,” added Neuer.
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Group C
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P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
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| 1 |
 SL Benfica
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3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
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-
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| 2 |
 FC Bayern München
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3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 6 |
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| 3 |
 CA Boca Juniors
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3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 2 |
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| 4 |
 Auckland City FC
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3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 17 | -16 | 1 |
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Bayern’s slip-up sets up a Round of 16 showdown with Brazilian side CR Flamengo, who have taken the tournament by storm. If there was any lesson Neuer is taking from the Benfica loss, it is that playing with urgency from the opening whistle will be needed to counter Flamengo’s high-octane football.
“We need to start with intensity in our next game with Flamengo,” said Neuer. “Honestly, I'm feeling positive because of the second half and what we achieved with our team, how we created the chances. If we can go 90 minutes with this tempo and how we created our chances, I feel positive for the tournament."
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Botafogo: Rising from the ashes
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Botafogo are through to the round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup
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Club has made an impressive rise to the summit of the domestic and continental ranks
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Face fellow Brazilian outfit SE Palmeiras on 28 June in Philadelphia
It was 27 November 2021. The two most recent winners of the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores faced each other in Montevideo. The 2019 champions, CR Flamengo, lost in extra time to SE Palmeiras, who would be crowned back-to-back champions that afternoon at the historic Estadio Centenario. That title secured Palmeiras’ spot in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. A week earlier, on 21 November 2021, Botafogo took to the pitch not far from there, in Rio Grande do Sul, the Brazilian state bordering Uruguay. The match was at Estadio Bento de Freitas in the city of Pelotas, which has never hosted a FIFA World Cup™ match. While their red-and-black rivals from Rio were vying for another continental title, Botafogo needed to overcome Brasil de Pelotas to end their ordeal of playing in Serie B, having previously spent the 2003 and 2015 seasons in the second tier.
Besides securing promotion to Serie A with one match to spare, the 1-0 victory can now be regarded as the harbinger of radical changes that not even the most optimistic fan could have foreseen. The following month, it became known that an American investor, John Textor, was interested in buying the club, following changes in Brazilian law that allowed the formation of football joint-stock companies. For a fanbase accustomed to reading news of a club in serious trouble, whether that be the lack of a training ground or massive debts, the arrival of a gringo was seen as the last resort.
“We took over the club on 11 March 2022, and the [Brazilian Serie A] league season started on 15 April. We had three players who had already played in the top flight. We had to bring in 27 new players. I remember supporters messaging me, telling us just to be competitive,” Textor recalled on a Botafogo TV podcast.
Even before they reached the knockout round of the inaugural Club World Cup by defeating the current UEFA Champions League titleholders Paris Saint-Germain, Botafogo’s rise has been meteoric. The Lone Star qualified for the tournament on 30 November 2024 by winning the Copa Libertadores 2024. 40,000 fans flooded into Buenos Aires by plane or, for the most part, on four-day bus trips – two days each way.
As could only be expected with Botafogo, the match took a dramatic turn when Gregore, their defensive midfielder, was sent off in the first minute. Playing with ten men, the Glorioso beat Clube Atletico Mineiro 3-1, winning the Cup for the first time in their history. One week later, the team also clinched the Brazilian title for the first time since 1995.
“Today, Botafogo can sign top-quality players, athletes capable of playing for big European clubs,” remarked Marlon Freitas, captain of the team that lifted the trophy at the Estadio Monumental.
“I’m very hands-on. I like to see these improvements. Whenever I can, I give the management feedback on what needs to improve or what’s excellent. What Botafogo has been doing internally will bear fruit externally. We will speak on the pitch.” he added.
The journey was short but tortuous, though it couldn’t have been any other way, according to the Botafogo faithful. They are proud of the club’s glorious past, which has provided the most players for Brazil's national teams in the World Cup. Names like Garrincha, Nilton Santos, Didi, Zagallo, and Jairzinho are key figures in shaping the legendary aura of the Canarinho, as Brazil’s national team is known. But the Lone Star have been toughened up by years of suffering, such as the 21 years without even winning a state championship. “Players need tools to unlock their full potential on the pitch” said Mauricio, the club idol who ended that trophy drought in 1989 with victory in the Rio de Janeiro State Championship over Flamengo, in an interview with FIFA. “Today, Botafogo is rebuilding its strength with a structure that is slowly coming together, taking root and beginning to bear fruit. We are happy to see this. I sowed the seeds; this whole group sowed the seeds back then.”
Between Serie B and the fruits already harvested – or those yet to come – the club had an uneventful year in 2022, laying the groundwork for the future. The following year, Portuguese coach Luis Castro led the club to the top of Serie A until he received a phone-call. On the other end was his compatriot, Cristiano Ronaldo. And just like that, the coach headed to Saudi Arabia.
Even without him, Botafogo gained a 14-point lead over Palmeiras in the league table, only to see everything crumble around them, game after game, with Palmeiras eventually winning the title. In the head-to-head clash at a packed Estadio Nilton Santos, Botafogo were leading 3-0 at half-time, before their rivals launched a comeback to win 4-3.
The following year, the stadium was once again filled for a Libertadores round-of-16 tie between the clubs. To symbolise Botafogo’s rebirth, the fans created a stadium mosaic: a phoenix bearing the club’s Lone Star badge.
Danilo: Bayern match will be a brilliant encounter
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Flamengo ended their Group D campaign with a draw against LAFC
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They will now take on Bayern München in the last 16
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Danilo and Filipe Luis fancy their chances against the Germans
CR Flamengo went into their Group D finale at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ knowing victory over LAFC would have made them the first team to achieve a perfect record. Their already-eliminated counterparts stood firm, though, and looked to have won the match until a late Wallace Yan goal ensured the Mengão, who had already secured first place, at least finished unbeaten.
Filipe Luis’ side's reward is a last-16 meeting with FC Bayern München, whose defeat at the hands of SL Benfica cost them pole position in Group C. Defender Danilo is disappointed at seeing the winning run come an end, but is relishing the upcoming battle with the Bavarian giants.
“I’m doing well, but I’m slightly disappointed by how the match played out," he admitted to FIFA. “We’re delighted to advance as group winners, which is what we’d been working towards. It’s the target we set ourselves starting out in this competition. We’ve done the job, so now we need to recover and replenish our energy levels.
"Now everything resets, and we have such an important tie coming up. We know we’ll need to be at our best to get through. Our supporters are incredible, so we’ll need to take on Bayern as one."
Having played for FC Porto, Real Madrid C. F., Manchester City and Juventus FC, Danilo knows European football better than most, and is aware of the dangers posed by a powerful Bayern side. Both teams have similar styles underpinned by a high press, recovering possession quickly and keeping the ball for long spells to unlock space in the final third. The 33-year-old also spoke about how to prepare to face the German champions.
“Bayern are such a strong team – it’ll be a brilliant encounter," he continued. "We’ll try to prepare for it in the same way, just as we’ve done up until this point. We want to stay loyal to our style of play. Of course, we’ll need to defend well throughout against Bayern, but we’ll also try to keep possession and play our game.”
It will be South America against Europe in the Round of 16, with Danilo keen to stress just how much the beautiful game has developed in his home country. “There are teams in Brazil achieving wonderful things, and we’re performing very well at this tournament. It’s no surprise to me. Every team has players brimming with experience and quality.”
Filipe Luis echoed the storied defender’s thoughts: “We’ve had a good group phase, and I’m delighted with our progress," he said. "Now we’re fully focused on Bayern. Anything can happen in a one-off match. We have our style of play and brand of attacking football, so we’ll try to stay true to that despite being up against a top-level side. The best team will emerge victorious in the end.”
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Boca Juniors have crashed out of the FIFA Club World Cup
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Were held to a stunning draw by the amateurs from Auckland City FC
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Despite the early exit the team's large band of supporters continued to back their side
Even when CA Boca Juniors' clash with Auckland City FC was suspended for 40 minutes due to a thunderstorm in Nashville, the noise didn't die down. The rain may have dampened some things but not the spirits of the Boca faithful. Amid a cacophony of drums and trumpets, thousands huddled indoors for one last roar in what would turn out to be their final moments at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
With the players seeking shelter inside, the Bosteros seized their moment to make one last statement as they showed their undying love to their club – a love that remains regardless of the team's results, poor form or lack of titles.
"We always have to thank the fans. They have supported us ever since we left Argentina. I honestly didn't know what it was like here and now I’ve been able to see it for myself. We have to thank them. We tried our best to take Boca to the top but sometimes in football these things happen," veteran forward Edinson Cavani said after the match.
Boca Juniors needed nothing short of a miracle to qualify for the Round of 16. Miguel Angel Russo, who took over less than a month ago to replace Fernando Gago, had seen his side earn a promising 2-2 draw with Benfica in their opening fixture before then falling 2-1 to FC Bayern München, meaning that things were out of their own hands heading into the final fixture.
Despite that, the fans again showed up in numbers, just as they had for the other two fixtures. The six-time Copa Libertadores winners have not won an international title since 2007 when their now president, Juan Roman Riquelme, was the club’s big star. But the lack of titles has done little to shake the unwavering support of Boca’s twelfth man.
As Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany noted, the Boca fans bring with them a special atmosphere. "I've had a long career and I'm happy to be a coach, but in games like these I wish I was a player again. The atmosphere and the hostile crowd are what I love about football. I think most fans would pay a lot of money to see them," he said.
In the end, Boca couldn't find the result they needed against an amateur side from Auckland, where a trainee teacher scored the goal that earned them a 1-1 draw. The full-time whistle sparked emotional celebrations from the Auckland players who remained on the pitch for several minutes to take in their achievement.
“I don’t have the words, to be honest. It’s a special moment for the club. We’ve worked so hard and this is a day that we’ll never forget”, Gray told FIFA.
Amid those Navy Blue celebrations, still the Boca fans kept singing. After the final whistle, they belted out their traditional chant: “soy bostero, es un sentimiento, no puedo parar” (“I’m a bostero, it’s a feeling, I can’t stop”) – before the players moved toward the blue‑and‑gold end to show their gratitude. Cavani stayed for several minutes signing autographs and acknowledging the Bosteros, who never once stopped singing and showing their love for their team as Boca bid farewell to the Club World Cup.
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Messi toasts birthday with PSG reunion
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The Argentina star celebrates his 38th birthday today
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Inter Miami qualified for the Round of 16 last night
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They'll face his former side PSG in Atlanta
Each of Lionel Messi’s birthdays has a tale attached; each lap around the sun tells the story in statistics. He seemingly defies the physics of time: hours before his 38th birthday, the legendary No10 pulled off yet another feat on the biggest stage of club football by helping to guide Inter Miami CF into the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. In front of thousands of home fans, the Herons put in a colossal display against Palmeiras to earn the draw they needed.
Messi’s competitive spirit remains unquenchable and ageless. Despite making it to the Round of 16, Palmeiras’ late equaliser left the pint-sized virtuoso and his team-mates brooding. “We were up to the task in all three group games," said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano. "We came into the tournament as the underdogs but thanks to our hard work, we have managed to overcome the obstacles. We’ve earned the right to play against the European champions."
As always, the No10, affectionately known as 'La Pulga', or 'the flea', was his team’s creative leader. Buoyed by securing the first – and so far only – victory for a Major League Soccer side at a FIFA club tournament, the talismanic Messi was surrounded by trusted allies with Oscar Ustari between the sticks, Federico Redondo in midfield alongside former Barça team-mate Sergio Busquets and with Luis Suarez up front. The Uruguayan hitman, who offered a masterclass in hold-up play, capped his night with a breath-taking goal.
Palmeiras snatched a draw to clinch top spot in Group A, staging a stirring comeback in the final ten minutes courtesy of strikes from Paulinho and Mauricio. The result altered the standings, with Palmeiras now set to face Botafogo in an all-Brazilian showdown and Inter Miami poised to take on European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16.
The clash between the Herons and Les Rouge et Bleu will be a meeting of past and present for Messi. Following his shock departure from Barcelona in August 2021, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain in one of the biggest transfers in the history of the game. With the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe on the French capital club’s books, PSG’s ambitious project seemed to know no limits.
Expectations around the trio were sky-high, but so too were the risks. In the end, the result was underwhelming. Messi won two Ligue 1 titles and a Trophee des Champions with the French outfit, but the star-studded squad failed to deliver on the continental stage. But the Flea would not be kept down, inspiring Argentina to victory over France in a spectacular final at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Six months after that triumph, he ended his stint at the Parc des Princes with 32 goals, 34 assists and three titles in 75 games before heading to Florida.
“It would be nice to meet Messi again,” said PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi after the Parisians’ win over Seattle Sounders FC. “We spent two years together. There were many beautiful moments. But then, on the field, there are no friends. He will try to win and we will also try to win. We will give everything to try to pass to the next round.”
For the iconic superstar, the blockbuster bout will be a reunion with several former team-mates and coach Luis Enrique, under whom he won the Champions League during their days together at Barcelona in 2014-15. The Spanish tactician, who recently led PSG to their first-ever crown in Europe’s elite club competition, will also face other players from that unforgettable Barça side: Mascherano, Busquets, Suarez and Jordi Alba, who were part of the starting line-up in the Champions League final against Juventus FC in Berlin in 2015.
“Facing Messi? It would be amazing for us, for me,” said Gianluigi Donnarumma. “I spent two fantastic years at PSG with him, we played with the best player in the world. But I hope we win, because he has already won many trophies!"
With Messi as the main attraction, Inter Miami will look to pull off another headline-grabbing upset on the world stage. “It’s incredible how much he loves this sport and how freely he plays,” stressed Mascherano. Alba, Messi’s partner in crime from their days at the Camp Nou, added: “He’s capable of carrying on for many more years, up until his body, or he himself decides. He still plays like he’s a young lad and continues to make the difference.”
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Olise leads pack in Top Goal Scorer race
Michael Olise is ahead of FC Bayern München team-mate Jamal Musiala, Juventus FC youngster Kenan Yildiz and SL Benfica veteran Angel Di Maria in the race to be named Top Goal Scorer presented by Bank of America at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
The winger's winning goal in Bayern's qualification-securing 2-1 win over Boca Juniors took him on to three for the tournament and, due to the two assists he chalked up in the Bavarians' 10-0 demolition of Auckland City, Olise holds the advantage over Musiala, Yildiz and Di Maria.
The latter converted two penalties in Benfica's 6-0 win against Auckland City to add to the spot-kick he struck against CA Boca Juniors in their opening match. It was not such a positive day at the office for Musiala, however, with the young Bayern star forced off the field against Boca with an injury that could threaten his future involvement.
Yildiz, who was on target in Juventus' opening match 5-0 cruise against Al Ain FC, scored two further goals as the Italian giants marched on to the Round of 16 with an equally impressive 4-1 triumph over Wydad AC.
Al Ahly FC forward Wessam Abou Ali has joined the leading group on three goals following his hat-trick in the thrilling 4-4 draw with FC Porto, but with the Egyptian giants now eliminated he will be unable to add to his tally.
Top Goal Scorer presented by Bank of America
Three goals
Michael Olise (Bayern München) - two assists, 180 minutes played Jamal Musiala (Bayern München) - no assists, 54 minutes played Kenan Yildiz (Juventus) - no assists, 146 minutes played Wessam Abou Ali (Al Ahly) - no assists, 198 minutes played Angel Di Maria (Benfica) - no assists, 253 minutes played
Two goals
Kingsley Coman (Bayern München) – one assist, 112 minutes played Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus) - one assist, 142 minutes played Thomas Muller (Bayern München) – one assist, 188 minutes played Wallace Yan (Flamengo) - no assists, 27 minutes played Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) - no assists, 112 minutes played Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns) - no assists, 153 minutes played Francisco Conceicao (Juventus) - no assists, 162 minutes played Lautaro Martinez (Internazionale) - no assists, 180 minutes played Pedro Neto (Chelsea) - no assists, 180 minutes played Leandro Barreiro (Benfica) - no assists, 181 minutes played Samu Aghehowa (Porto) - no assists, 225 minutes played Pablo Barrios (Atlético de Madrid) - no assists, 244 minutes played Igor Jesus (Botafogo) - no assists, 265 minutes played
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