FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Who’s in, who’s out – round of 16 preview

The lineup for the FIFA Club World Cup circular of 16 is complete. Al Jazeera Sport takes a person look.

Lionel Messi’s reunion with erstwhile nine Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid’s gathering with Juventus are the eye-catching ties of a mouthwatering circular of 16 astatine the FIFA Club World Cup.

Real Madrid and Al Hilal‘s triumph against Salzburg and Pachuca connected Thursday evening completed the radical signifier of FIFA’s reformatted competition.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look astatine the apical talking points arsenic the expanded 32-team tourney reaches the knockout stage.

When does the Round of 16 begin?

The archetypal lucifer of the knockout stages volition beryllium staged connected Saturday, June 28, successful Philadelphia, with an all-Brazilian matter arsenic Palmeiras look Botafogo astatine Lincoln Financial Field.

Botafogo are the reigning Brazilian and South American champions and bushed European champions PSG connected the mode to qualifying from their radical astatine Atletico Madrid’s expense.

Sao Paulo broadside Palmeiras – featuring Brazil prodigy and aboriginal Chelsea winger Estevao Willian – won their radical and are supra Botafogo successful the Brazilian league.

However, Botafogo are unbeaten successful their past 5 meetings with Palmeiras, including the 2 legs of a Copa Libertadores last-16 necktie past year.

Lionel Messi during signifier astatine the club’s grooming centre successful Fort Lauderdale, Florida [Hannah Mckay/Reuters]

When and wherever volition Messi’s Miami look PSG?

Messi’s Inter Miami were a astonishment bundle successful the radical stage, beating Porto connected their mode to progressing to the past 16, but a precocious illness against Palmeiras meant they finished 2nd and indispensable look the Argentinian playmaker’s erstwhile side, PSG.

The lucifer volition beryllium played connected Sunday, June 29, successful Atlanta.

This season, PSG ended a agelong hold to triumph the Champions League for the archetypal clip and Luis Enrique’s broadside are expected to vanquish their MLS opponents, but Botafogo bushed them successful the radical signifier to beryllium they are not untouchable.

Who volition defending champions Man City look successful the circular of 16?

Holders Man City look Al Hilal successful the adjacent circular and travel into the knockout signifier successful ominous form, arsenic the lone squad astatine the tourney to triumph each 3 radical games.

They person scored 11 times successful their past 2 matches, with a 5-2 demolition of Juventus coming aft they enactment six past Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates.

A crippled against Al Hilal, the 2021 Asian champions, connected Monday successful Orlando volition springiness City nary crushed to beryllium afraid, adjacent if the Saudi nine boast galore erstwhile stars of starring European leagues, including Joao Cancelo.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hasn’t held backmost immoderate of his large names successful defence of their Club World Cup rubric [Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters]

Is Real Madrid against Juventus the necktie of the round?

This is simply a clash betwixt 2 accepted European titans who person met 21 times. There person been 2 Champions League finals betwixt the clubs, some won by Real.

A 5-2 decision for Juventus against Manchester City suggests they whitethorn find the going pugnacious against Madrid.

Real are adapting to beingness nether a caller manager successful Xabi Alonso, who experimented with a three-man defence against Salzburg. He volition anticipation to person Kylian Mbappe backmost aft the Frenchman missed the radical signifier with illness.

What has Dortmund’s ailment been earlier the Monterray test?

Dortmund manager Niko Kovac has not held backmost connected expressing his feelings astir having to play successful utmost vigor astatine the tournament, truthful helium volition beryllium blessed the crippled against Mexican broadside Monterrey is astatine the covered and air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Despite their complaints, Dortmund person grown into the tournament. They look erstwhile Real Madrid prima Sergio Ramos and a Monterrey squad that has impressed, notably a creditable gully against Inter Milan.

FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16:

• Palmeiras vs Botafogo – Saturday, June 28, successful Philadelphia (16:00 GMT)
• Benfica vs Chelsea – Saturday, June 28, successful Charlotte (20:00 GMT)
• Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami – Sunday, June 29, successful Atlanta (16:00 GMT)
• Flamengo vs Bayern Munich – Sunday, June 29, successful Miami (20:00 GMT)
• Inter Milan vs Fluminense – Monday, June 30, successful Charlotte (19:00 GMT)
• Manchester City vs Al Hilal – Monday, June 30, successful Orlando (01:00 Tuesday, July 1)
• Real Madrid vs Juventus – Tuesday, July 1, successful Miami (19:00 GMT)
• Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey – Tuesday, July 1, successful Atlanta (01:00 GMT connected Wednesday, July 2).

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies