As the group phase of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup comes to an end, we take a closer look at what the Round of 16 of the tournament holds for spectators across the globe, especially those whose darling clubs are participants.
The group phase of the competition, which started on the 14th of June, took us from boring to exciting and even surprising moments. A certain team from New Zealand, for instance, were beaten 10-0 and 2-0 respectively, but unexpectedly scored a goal against Boca Juniors to earn a draw and a point in the competition.
We saw Flamengo of Brazil beat Chelsea effortlessly, and the winners of last season’s UEFA Champions League lost 1-0 to Botafogo in their second group game, something no one could have predicted unless they had the ability to see the future. PSG had recently beaten one of the toughest teams in the group 4-0 after their 5-0 walloping of Italian giants Inter Milan in the final of the UEFA Champions League.
Looking at the Round of 16 encounters tO on Saturday, the 28th of June, it will be difficult to predict who makes it to the quarterfinals after the surprising results of the group phase, where teams like Atlético Madrid and Portugal’s FC Porto were unable to make it to the next round, despite having a better chance on paper than those who qualified ahead of them in their respective groups.
On Saturday, the first game will see two Brazilian powerhouses, Palmeiras and Botafogo, go head-to-head at 6:00 PM at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
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By 10:00 PM the same day, English giants Chelsea FC will take on Portuguese side Benfica at the Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte. Though Chelsea is the bigger team currently, they will be considered the underdog when they face a side that beat Bayern to top their group.
On Sunday, PSG will face Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at around 6:00 PM, while Germany’s greatest team, Bayern Munich, will face Flamengo at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami at 10:00 PM. In the latter, PSG are the clear favourites.
On Monday, Italian giants Inter Milan will take on Brazil’s Fluminense at 9:00 PM at the Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte. Here, the favourite is on paper only, as neither team didn’t do much in the group phase to be tagged as clear favourites in this round.
At Orlando’s Camping World Stadium on Tuesday, Manchester City of England will be favourites after winning all three games in their group, as they go head-to-head with Al Hilal Riyadh of Saudi Arabia at 3:00 AM. Then, Real Madrid will encounter a stern challenge from the Old Ladies (Juventus) of Italy at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, at 9:00 PM.
The final match of the Round of 16 will have Borussia Dortmund lock horns with the Mexican team Monterrey at the Camping World Stadium, Orlando, at 3:00 AM. Having drawn one and won two in the group phase, the German side will be the favourite to go through.
Leave us with your thoughts as you tell us who you think will make it to round 8 of the competition.
