GOAL US looks at which sides are under the most pressure in the CWC and the group stage rolls on
The first round of the 2025 Club World Cup group stage is complete, and the competition is intensifying. No team has been eliminated, but the second round of games could bring the tournament’s first exits. There have been some surprising outcomes, and some big-name clubs need results to lock up spots in the knockout rounds.
MLS sides LAFC and Inter Miami remain in contention, but will need strong performances in tough matchups to reach the knockouts. European powers Real Madrid, Inter, Borussia Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid also face challenges, with each still in position to advance but under pressure to deliver. Game 2 of the Group Stage kicked off Thursday, and included another stunner, with Botafogo knocking off PSG.
GOAL US takes a look at which teams are under the most pressure in the Club World Cup.
Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowGetty Images SportInter Miami
Few teams have more at stake than Inter Miami in this summer's competition. Lionel Messi remains among the elite, but the MLS franchise is under pressure to make a statement for both the team and the league.
Their opening match against Al Ahly ended in a frustrating scoreless draw, with moments of brilliance from Messi and a spectacular penalty save by Oscar Ustari, but a generally disjointed team performance elsewhere. Miami looked tentative for much of the match, showing urgency only in the closing minutes.
“We knew we were up against a strong team…The nerves and anxiety played a trick on us in the first half,” head coach Javier Mascherano said afterward. “But we had our chances to win. The team left a very good impression. This is the path forward… playing like this, we can beat anyone.”
Miami responded to that shaky start with a crucial 2-1 victory over Porto on Thursday, fueled by Messi's late heroics. But the job is far from done: with four points now in Group A, the Herons must secure at least a draw against Palmeiras in their final group match to guarantee a spot in the knockout stage.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportAtletico Madrid
For a manager such as Diego Simeone, whose teams are renowned for defensive discipline, Atletico Madrid’s 4-0 thrashing at the hands of PSG in their opener was nothing short of embarrassing. But if there’s one thing Atletico have consistently shown over the years, it’s resilience.
"We came to compete. On the road, there can be turbulence, and we experienced that today,” Simeone said afterward.
Players, coaches, and fans alike pointed to the brutal conditions at kickoff – 88 degrees under direct Califorinia sun – as a factor, though midfielder Marcos Llorente admitted that both teams faced the same challenge.
“It's terribly hot," he said. "My toes were sore, my nails were hurting. I couldn't stop or start. In the end, it's incredible. Since it's the same for everyone, there's no complaint."
Atleti responded to that heavy defeat with a critical 3-1 win over Seattle, keeping their hopes alive in Group B. Now sitting on three points, Simeone's side controls their fate, but will likely need at least a result in their final match against Borussia Dortmund to secure advancement.
Getty Images SportInter
Inter's 1-1 draw against Monterrey to begin the tournament was an underwhelming performance by all accounts, but in tournament play, a point is always a valuable point.
Following their abysmal performance in the 2025 UEFA Champions League final, a 5-0 battering at the hands of PSG, they need to rebound this summer and show they still have what it takes to compete with the world's best. Their opening round performance, though, showed nothing close to meeting the standard the world has come to know from the Italian outfit.
Now, a battle of physical and mental strength awaits Inter.
On top of their UCL failure, they ended their domestic Serie A campaign disappointingly, losing out on the league title on the final day of the season to Antonio Conte's Napoli. With no silverware in 2024-25, the Club World Cup presents a chance at redemption.
After their point against in Game 1, newly appointed manager Cristian Chivu admitted his team "lacked a bit of nastiness in front of goal."
He will want more from his attacking core. They should be favored when facing a Urawa Red Diamonds side that lost 3-1 to River Plate.
Getty Images SportLAFC
The most in-form MLS team heading into the Club World Cup, LAFC were looking to make a splash after earning a late entry through a one-off playoff game against Club America. However, in their opening match against Chelsea FC, a 2-0 defeat, they lacked a clear idea of how to compete against an elite English side.
Head coach Steve Cherundolo admitted they were outplayed after the game, but said there were positive takeaways.
“We really want to be here and show well and try to make a statement,” he said after the match. “We're still on that journey. We'll recover and get past tonight and use the examples that we have to improve and move forward.”
The were held to just 35 percent possession, and across the 90 minutes, only had three scoring chances. The result was their first defeat across all competitions since April 9 – a loss in the CONCACAF Champions Cup to Inter Miami.
“Overall, I think it’s a performance we can build on,” Cherundolo said. “And we certainly need to build on it because we have an opponent coming up next [and] a game that we can and need to win. We'll focus all of our energy first in recovery, and then we'll start preparing for the opponent and look to improve on tonight's performance.”
After falling in the opener, they will potentially need two straight results to secure advancement. LAFC will play ES Tunis at Geodis Park in Nashville Friday as they look to secure their first victory in the competition.
