FIFA Club World Cup
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Group F at the 2025 Club World Cup concludes today and our focus is on the encounter between Borussia Dortmund and Ulsan HD.
The German side will progress to the knockout stages if they avoid defeat, with the South Korean outfit already eliminated, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
At the same time, Mamelodi Sundowns and Fluminense face off aiming to reach the knockouts as well in Miami.
You can sign up to DAZN to watch every FIFA Club World Cup game for free.
Fluminense will go through if they avoid defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns. If they lose, they will be knocked out if Borussia Dortmund avoid defeat against Ulsan HD.
If Dortmund also lose, then Fluminense will have to hope their overall goal difference in all group matches is better than Dortmund’s.
Draw or win against Ulsan HD and Dortmund will advance. If they lose, they will still go through providing Mamelodi Sundowns don’t beat Fluminense.
If the South African side win, and Dortmund lose, then whoever has the better overall goal difference in all group matches between the German club and Fluminense will advance alongside the South African side.
Mamelodi Sundowns will go through if they win. Fail to pick up three points and they will be knocked out.
Ulsan HD have been eliminated.
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Fluminense and Dortmund are level on four points in Group F after a win and a draw from their opening two fixture.
The Brazilian side sit top by virtue of their superior goal difference.
Mamelodi Sundowns are on three points, with Ulsan HD on zero after two defeats.
Another start for Jobe Bellingham this evening for Borussia Dortmund, who will play in the No.10 role behind Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi.
Niko Kovac also names four full-backs in his starting lineup. Two on the outside of his three-man defence, two more as wing-backs further forward.
Player to watch, Jobe aside? Felix Nmecha. He’s becoming a really dynamic midfielder, full of technical class and self-belief, and can be a real spectacle with the ball at his feet.
Ulsan’s head coach, Kim Pan-gon, has arrived at the TQL Stadium in Ohio.
The 56-year-old South Korean took charge of Ulsan last summer having previously enjoyed stints in charge of the Hong Kong and Malaysian national teams.
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel, Bensebaini, Anton, Ryerson, Yan Couto, Svensson, Nmecha, Gross, Bellingham, Guirassy, Adeyemi.
Subs: Meyer, Ostrzinski, Sule, Coulibaly, Mane, Sabitzer, Brandt, Reyna, Chukwuemeka, Azhil, Beier, Duranville, Campbell, Inacio, Albert.
Ulsan HD: Jo, Sang-Woo Kang, Ludwigson, Jae-Ik Lee, Young-Gwon Kim, Trojak, Min-Hyuk Kim, Bojanic, Jin-Hyun Lee, Erick, Lacava.
Subs: Moon, Ryu, Min-Seo Park, Min-woo Kang, Seok-Hyun Choi, Yoon, Seo, Chung-Yong Lee, Min-Woo Kim, Woo-Young Jung, Ko, Hee-Gyun Lee, Baek, Heo, Cariello.
We expect both line-ups to be announced in the not-too-distant future.
How strong will Dortmund go considering their nice position in the group?
And will already-eliminated Ulsan rotate, or go as strong as possible?
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“It's impossible, terribly hot. My toenails were hurting; I couldn't slow down or speed up. It was unbelievable.”
“Today was too hot and the time of the day when we played did not help.”
“It would have been better to play at a different time.”
Players, fans and executives have been complaining to The Athletic about the heat at the Club World Cup – and it's about to get a lot hotter as a heatwave will hit the U.S. this week, taking temperatures past 100F and turning up the humidity.
FIFA says it has cooling breaks in place for players but experts say it should take more proactive action.
The Athletic's staff on the ground explain the issues, how teams are trying to cope, what FIFA is doing and consider if it should do more.
GO FURTHER
Extreme heat at the Club World Cup: Players and fans voice concerns as temperatures soar
Clarity was in short supply during the breathless drama of yesterday's final Group A matches played simultaneously, but the tension should crystallise one thing for FIFA when deliberating on the Club World Cup's future direction.
The expansion of the field to 32 teams has, so far, been a sporting success, helping the competition legitimise itself — but world football’s governing body must not indulge a logic which assumes more always equals better.
Last night’s two helter-skelter matches were perfect examples of the jeopardy and gladiatorial duels which come from only two sides in each four-team group progressing into the knockout phase of a tournament.
It was the sort of night likely to be far rarer at next summer’s also-expanded 48-team World Cup, up from 32, because the eight best third-placed sides in the groups will also advance.
An all-Brazilian clash of Palmeiras vs Botafogo and PSG vs Inter Miami had already been booked into the last 16 ties at the 2025 Club World Cup.
And after Tuesday's results, Benfica vs Chelsea and Bayern Munich vs Flamengo were inscribed into the round as well.
Flamengo's dubious reward for finishing top of the group is facing the mighty Bayern.
Glad you asked.
First, already-eliminated New Zealand part-timers Auckland City secured one of the best results in their history, holding the famed Boca Juniors to a 1-1 draw, while Benfica edged past Bayern Munich with a narrow 1-0 win.
Those results saw Benfica leapfrog Bayern atop Group C, with Boca knocked out.
Then Group D leaders Flamengo drew 1-1 with LAFC of MLS, while Chelsea beat ES Tunis 3-0 to secure second place in the group.
These tournaments are all about the shared experience — and we would love to hear from you throughout this Club World Cup.
Be it a comment, observation, prediction, a question you always wanted answered, or something completely different, we welcome it all.
Email us at live@theathletic.com and have your say. We’re already looking forward to reading what you’ve got for us.
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Fluminense: Will go through if they avoid defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns. If they lose, they will be knocked out if Borussia Dortmund avoid defeat against Ulsan HD.
If Dortmund also lose, then Fluminense will have to hope their overall goal difference in all group matches is better than Dortmund’s.
Borussia Dortmund: Draw or win against Ulsan HD and the German side will advance. If they lose, they will still go through providing Sundowns don’t beat Fluminense.
If the South African side win, and Dortmund lose, then whoever has the better overall goal difference in all group matches between the German club and Fluminense will advance alongside the South African side.
Mamelodi Sundowns: If they win they go through. Fail to pick up three points and they will be knocked out.
Ulsan HD: The South Korean side have been eliminated.
Well, Fluminense and Dortmund are level on four points in Group F after a win and a draw from their opening two fixtures, the former sneaking to top spot on goal difference.
Mamelodi Sundowns are on three, with Ulsan HD on zero after two defeats.
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From the UK, we’ve got you covered throughout this expanded Club World Cup and on into the build-up to next summer’s World Cup, with Wimbledon tennis, F1’s iconic European races, and The Open golf all on the way soon too.
We have the lot covered and much more besides, so make sure you’re fully informed with access to our full experience. And you’re in luck — you can subscribe to The Athletic on an exclusive offer here.
All matches at this Club World Cup are available to watch on DAZN, so you can watch this afternoon's game in the United States and anywhere else that has access to DAZN.
In Australia, the Club World Cup is available to stream on Kayo Sports, while you can also tune in via Coupang Play in South Korea.
TQL Stadium, home to MLS side FC Cincinnati, might be my favorite soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. On a chilly night and with a packed crowd, it has a true European feel.
When the U.S. hosted Mexico for a pivotal 2022 World Cup qualifier in November 2021, the energy was palpable. The stadium was brand new, but there was a rustic feel to it as thousands of fans sang and marched throughout the concourse.
The U.S. won that game 2-0 and established Cincinnati as a viable home for the U.S. national team. It’s early in the stadium’s history, but it should continue to be an option for international and club competitions.
There are strong German roots in the city, which should bode well for support for Borussia Dortmund.
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The action begins at 3pm ET, 12pm noon PT on the east and west coast of the United States, respectively.
That's 8pm BST in the UK.
Hello everyone! And welcome all of you to The Athletic.
It's another day of fascinating Club World Cup action today, with Group F coming to a close with two fixtures with so much on the line.
Borussia Dortmund taken on Ulsan HD, covered live here, while we will also have plenty of updates from Mamelodi Sundowns vs Fluminense, played simultaneously, as well.
Let's get into it.