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2025 FIFA Club World Cup Predictions
2025 FIFA Club World Cup Predictions
Like it or not, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is here, with Al Ahly and Inter Miami kicking off the festivities as the U.S. prepares to host the precursor to next year’s FIFA World Cup.
While there is a swath of concerns about the tournament, from a lack of fan interest to the ongoing political situation in the U.S., we here at Vendetta are still here to cover the tournament and provide you with well-informed predictions before the action kicks off. So, without further ado, let’s hop into it!
Winner: PSG
Anyone who has any team other than PSG as the favorite heading into the Club World Cup is delusional. I am not just saying this because they won the Champions League a few weeks ago. I am saying this because they are hands down the best team in the world right now, and the proof is in the pudding.
A 5-0 drubbing in the Champions League final against a seemingly defenseless Inter Milan side. Ligue 1 champions by 19 points, with the only losses of the season coming at the end when they had already secured the title. And when you watch them play, you can see the quality the team possesses. They have the best goalkeeper in the world in Gianluigi Donnarumma, an insane defense and midfield, and of course, a deadly attack that no one can stop.
Key players to watch include Ousmane Dembélé, who is in the Ballon d’Or conversation, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, and Achraf Hakimi. While Atletico Madrid and Botafogo may be able to cause issues in Group B, PSG are overpowered right now and are the clear favorites.
Other Teams To Watch
While the PSG hype is definitely well-deserved, there are other teams that rightfully deserve a shout as well. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan are three other teams that could easily walk away from the U.S. as Club World Cup champions.
Real Madrid is likely to be the biggest competitor that PSG has at the tournament. It is hard to count out Kylian Mbappé when a World Cup of any nature is happening, and with a nice supporting cast around him, expect big things from the Group H side.
In terms of teams outside of Europe who could make some noise, keep an eye on Palmeiras. The Brazilian side finds itself in a very manageable Group A alongside Porto, Al Ahly and Inter Miami. If they can manage their group, they have the firepower to make a run in the knockout stage.
Top Player: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
No, it is not Lionel Messi. I do not care what the media might say, he will not be the best player at this tournament. Let’s just get that straight now.
I could have easily picked Dembélé or someone else on PSG, but I am expecting the Georgian to have an unreal tournament. His dribbling, his finishing, his strength, his speed and his work rate are an absolute delight to watch. Defenders look terrified anytime he gets up to speed with the ball, and since PSG is the tournament favorite, it would only make sense that their star winger would be the tournament’s best player.
Big Teams Who Will Stumble
Atletico Madrid immediately comes to mind. While the Seattle Sounders are unlikely to cause any serious issues in Group B, Atletico finds themselves also playing PSG and Botafogo. Botagofo is good, and if Atletico are not careful, they could find themselves crashing out of the tournament early.
River Plate is another side that could have issues. The Argentine giants are in Group E alongside Inter Milan, Monterrey and Urawa Red Diamonds. Monterrey could easily match up with River Plate on any given day, so do not be shocked one bit if they get grouped as well.
Performance of the MLS teams
Last but not least, we need to talk about how the MLS teams will fare. We can keep this rather simple: expect no MLS team to get out of the group.
I will say, I think Inter Miami and LAFC have it in them to give some teams some issues. Who knows, maybe if they catch one of the big boys sleeping on a given night, they might find themselves in the knockout stages.
I am expecting nothing, however, of the Seattle Sounders. It is not just because they are in an incredibly loaded Group B. With the issues involving prize money distribution, I see no way that the Sounders get focused enough to have a decent showing at the tournament.
Expect to see the MLS get embarrassed, but here’s to hoping they prove me wrong!
I hope you enjoyed these Club World Cup predictions. What do you think will happen during the tournament? Let us know in the comments below!
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