FIFA Club World Cup
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Real Madrid and RB Salzburg meet in the last of the 2025 Club World Cup group-stage action with knockouts places on the line.
The Spanish giants hold the advantage in Group H as they lead the way heading into tonight's final games. A draw will be enough to take them into the last 16 while a win will secure top spot.
There will be attention on the other game being played as Al Hilal can still qualify with a win against bottom club Pachuca.
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The temperature has cooled in Philadelphia from recent days but the concern is now thunderstorms. The chance of rain is approximately 75 per cent over the next hour before kick-off, and a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect. As we get closer to 10 p.m. ET, the chance of rain diminishes, but we could be looking at a delayed start tonight.
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Starting XI: Courtois, Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Fran Garcia, Bellingham, Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Gonzalo
Subs: Lunin, Fran Gonzalez, Modric, Rodrygo, Lucas Vasquez, Ceballos, Brahim, Youssef, Jacobo, Chema, Victor Munoz, Mario Martin
There are still a couple of moving parts to the rest of the last-16 line-up, but those will stop moving in a few hours' time.
Here is what awaits the two teams that make it out of Group H as the knockout stage continues on Monday and Tuesday (all times ET).
Monday
Tuesday
With only two group-stage matches left at this tournament, the last-16 line-up isn't far away from being complete.
After we all get a much-needed rest day tomorrow, the knockout stage starts this weekend — here are the matches on Saturday and Sunday (all times ET).
Saturday
Sunday
Rodrygo’s name has rarely been out of the headlines in recent weeks.
When the 24-year-old Brazilian started Real Madrid’s Club World Cup opener against Al Hilal — and assisted Madrid’s only goal in that 1-1 draw — it was his first appearance since being replaced at half-time of the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26.
In those 53 days, speculation about Rodrygo’s situation and future escalated. There were doubts over the reasons for his absence along with rumours about a potential move to the Premier League, with Arsenal one of the clubs closely monitoring him.
New coach Xabi Alonso seemed to bring some clarity last week — but then Rodrygo played no role in Madrid’s 3-1 win against Pachuca on Sunday.
With his future up in the air, The Athletic explains what we are hearing about Rodrygo – follow the link below to check it out.
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Red Bull Salzburg and Al Hilal played out a 0-0 draw in their second match in Group H in Washington, D.C.
Yassine Bounou made five saves for the Saudi Arabian side while Christian Zawieschitzky made four for the Austrians. Al Hilal finished with a 19-13 advantage in shot attempts.
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Real Madrid bounced back from an early Raul Asencio red card to beat Pachuca 3-1 in Charlotte and give Xabi Alonso his first win as head coach.
After looking shaky early on, Asencio was sent off for bringing down Salomon Rondon just outside the penalty area, with the former Newcastle United forward through on goal.
It was an awful start with just seven minutes gone, but the Spaniards managed to get a foothold in the game before a wonderful move down the left flank saw Jude Bellingham accelerate onto the ball before striking into the bottom corner after 35 minutes.
Arda Guler then doubled the advantage two minutes before half-time with a lovely cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold and a lay-off from Gonzalo Garcia. Federico Valverde made the game safe after another clinical move from Madrid before Elias Montiel pulled a goal back for Pachuca.
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Red Bull Salzburg opened the tournament on a winning note, beating Pachuca 2-1 in a weather-delayed match in Cincinnati.
Oscar Gloukh opened the scoring for the Austrian side a few minutes before the half-time break, before the match was halted for approximately 90 minutes early in the second half due to severe weather. When the match resumed, Bryan Gonzalez soon equalized for the Mexican side, sneaking the ball in at the near post from a direct free kick. The match remained level until Karim Onisiwo's header in the 76th minute gave Salzburg the lead again, an advantage they wouldn't relinquish.
Real Madrid missed a late penalty as Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal produced an excellent performance to secure a 1-1 draw in their opening game in Group H.
Madrid’s young centre forward Gonzalo Garcia broke the deadlock after a neat passing move in first half, which came moments after their new coach Xabi Alonso had issued instructions to his team at a first-half cooling break.
Then Ruben Neves levelled from the penalty spot for Al Hilal shortly before the break. after a clumsy foul in the penalty area by Madrid centre-back Raul Asencio.
Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou held his nerve in the 92nd minute, diving low to his right to keep out Federico Valverde’s tame penalty kick.
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Clarity was in short supply during the breathless drama of many of the final group 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 FIFA must not indulge a logic which assumes more always equals better.
Several helter-skelter matches have been 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.
“It's impossible, terribly hot. My toenails were hurting; I couldn't slow down or speed up. It was unbelievable.”
Players, fans and executives have been complaining to The Athletic about the heat at the Club World Cup. FIFA says it has cooling breaks in place for players but experts say it should take more proactive action.
Though tonight's game should be in cooler temperatures, that will not be the case for many of the knockout-stage matches.
Below, The Athletic explain the issues, how teams are trying to cope, what FIFA is doing and consider if it should do more.
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In truth, Madrid will be many’s favorites to win the entire tournament.
Having already lifted the trophy a record five times, they are accustomed to being the most successful team in the world, so there will be an expectation that the 15-time European champions will go all the way.
Of course, Madrid are never far from their own unique version of calamity, as former manager Carlo Ancelotti found out last season.
As a new era and an opportunity to impress their new manager Xabi Alonso awaits, Madrid will be desperate to land some silverware after a rare campaign without a title.
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.
Red Bull Salzburg have a penchant for spotting young attacking talent and Gloukh may well be the next one off the production line. The 21-year-old has been one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise disappointing season in Salzburg.
Gloukh’s close control, weight of pass, and two-footedness display a technical proficiency beyond his years. The Israel international operates as a No 10 but regularly drifts wide into pockets of space towards the left touchline.
Four assists in the 2024-25 Austrian Bundesliga is a fairly modest return compared with a 2023-24 campaign that saw him notch 11 assists (0.5 per 90 minutes) — the highest of any player in the league.
However, Gloukh still shoulders a lot of his side’s creative responsibility, with his 23 chances created in this year’s Champions League being more than double his nearest team-mate in a Salzburg shirt.
After a season without winning any of the three major trophies, fans were excited to see this new version of Real Madrid after the arrival of Xabi Alonso as coach and new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen.
However, the spotlight surprisingly went to academy striker Gonzalo Garcia. With Kylian Mbappe out due to fever, Alonso opted for the 21-year-old from the Castilla reserve team, who arrived at the youth system aged 10.
In a team with Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, Gonzalo scored the first goal of the Alonso era, making it 1-0 against Al Hilal in the 34th minute. In the second half, he almost scored with a header.
Despite playing very well across the entire pitch, Gonzalo is a No 9 with a great nose for a goal in the area and, even though he is not overly tall, he excels aerially.
Without Endrick, who is injured, in the tournament, this is Garcia’s moment to prove himself… and he is doing just that.
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Real Madrid: If the Spanish club avoid defeat, they will qualify for the knockout stage. If they lose, they will still go through if Al Hilal fail to win, but would be eliminated if the Saudi Arabian club beat Pachuca. Pachuca have been eliminated.
Red Bull Salzburg: Will go through if they beat Madrid. If they draw, they will advance if Al Hilal fail to win. If Al Hilal do win, and Salzburg draw, the Austrians will go through if they draw by a scoreline of 2-2 or higher.
If it is 0-0, and Al Hilal win, they will be eliminated but if it is 1-1, whoever out of Salzburg and Al Hilal has the better overall goal difference in all group matches will advance alongside Madrid. This means that if Al Hilal were to win by two goals or more, and Salzburg-Madrid finishes 1-1, then Salzburg will be eliminated.
If the Saudi Arabian win by one goal, and Salzburg-Madrid finishes 1-1, then whoever out of Salzburg and Al Hilal has scored more goals in all group matches will advance alongside Madrid. If Red Bull Salzburg lose they will be knocked out only if Al Hilal win.
Al Hilal: Must beat Pachuca to have any chance of going through. If Al Hilal win and the game between Salzburg and Madrid isn’t a draw, then they will advance. If they pick up three points and Salzburg-Madrid finishes level, then whichever of Al Hilal and Salzburg scored more goals in matches between themselves and Madrid will advance alongside the Spanish club.
This means that if it is 0-0 in the Salzburg-Madrid match, then Al Hilal will go through and if it is 2-2 or higher, Salzburg will advance. If it is 1-1, then whoever out of Al Hilal and Salzburg has the higher overall goal difference in all group matches will advance alongside Madrid, meaning a two-goal win would send the Saudi Arabian side through.
A one-goal win for Al Hilal, in the event of Salzburg-Madrid being 1-1, would mean that whoever out of Al Hilal and Salzburg has scored more goals in all group matches will advance alongside Madrid.
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Results: Real Madrid 1-1 Al Hilal, Pachuca 1-2 Red Bull Salzburg, Madrid 3-1 Pachuca, Salzburg 0-0 Al Hilal.
Real Madrid and RB Salzburg are both on four points after a win and a draw from their opening two games.
Al Hilal have drawn twice and have two points with hope remaining of qualification, while Pachuca are out after two defeats.
In Group G, paired with this group, we are partway through Juventus vs Manchester City (covered live on The Athletic) and Wydad AC vs Al Ain.
Then Group H's two fixtures, Al Hilal vs Pachuca alongside our featured match RB Salzburg vs Real Madrid, to conclude the group stage of the 2025 Club World Cup.
We'll bring you key updates from the games not covered live.
Philadelphia will be a busy host with eight matches being held at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. There are some intriguing matches, too.
The stadium is located in South Philadelphia, and it’s part of a bustling sports complex that includes Major League Baseball stadium Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies play, and Wells Fargo Center, home of the NBA’s 76ers and the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers.
Of course, there are plenty of tourist attractions to visit, too, such as the Rocky Balboa statue.
Hopefully, a brave coach or physio will make their team run the stairs that lead up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, just as Sylvester Stallone did in the classic 1976 film “Rocky.”