Tuesday action at the FIFA Club World Cup sees Sergio Ramos and Monterrey facing off with Champions League finalists Inter Milan, while Dortmund plays Brazil’s Fluminense in New York. Here is your look at all of the early stage action from the United States.
River Plate vs Urawa Red Diamonds
(Tuesday in Seattle)
River Plate have a plan to get out of their group and reach the knockout phase, that plan could be foiled by Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds. A clash of teams who have red as their color, the talk around River Plate has been around teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono who is exiting the club for Real Madrid at the end of this tournament. Mastantuono was critical for River’s season, as they are in the knockout phase of the Libertadores, and they did win a recent derby against Boca Juniors thanks to his free kick. This side has splashed the cash to try to be competitive for this tournament, they have experienced players like GK Franco Armani, Gonzalo Montiel, Colombian national team starter Kevin Castano and strikers Miguel Borja and Sebastian Driussi, the trouble is, this is a River side that often goes cold when they try to score, defensively sound, but despite the money they spent on midfield and attack, their attack is quite fragile.
Red Diamonds are 4th in the J League, but they last lifted a trophy in 2022. Like most J League teams, a strong domestic core is supplemented by a few foreign recruits, there are three Brazilians here including Matheus Savio, a Norwegian, and a Swede. Ryoma Watanabe is the top goal scorer. Expect Red Diamonds to take the J League approach to this game, defensively and technically sound football, and try to counter with set pieces or a loose opportunity from River Plate. River Plate are quite beatable, but I expect them to rise to the occasion in tournament football and get 3 points out of the gate. Prediction: River Plate 2 Urawa Red Diamonds 0
Monterrey vs Inter Milan (Tuesday in Los Angeles)
It’s the biggest occasion in the history of Monterrey Rayados, one of the two big LIGA MX teams from the north, who’s stadium is also hosting games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They will battle Champions League finalists and Serie A’s second place finisher Inter Milan in Los Angeles. With a Mexican club taking to the field at the Rose Bowl during a time when tensions around identity and immigration policy for Mexican-Americans in the United States are boiling.
On the field, Monterrey reinforced their squad with an eye on this tournament earlier in the season, the big signing was the ageless Real Madrid and Spain legend Sergio Ramos, who featured sparingly for the side in domestic and regional competition, but is expected to feature in every game they play in this tournament. Rayados best players are Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa, and Spaniard Sergio Canales, a classic 10 from Real Betis, who led the club to a LIGA MX final at the end of 2024. Another Colombian, Johan Rojas has returned from loan to play for Rayados this tournament, and former Porto man Tecatito Corona is a midfielder who loves to setup goals.
The challenges for Monterrey are two fold, they don’t defend consistently, and have a habit for conceding late goals that has cost them opportunities in both CONCACAF Champions League (d. by Vancouver), and the most recent Liga MX season (d. by eventual champions Toluca). Argentine Esteban Andrada has made errors in goal, while striker Germán Berterame has the stats to lead this club in terms of producing goals, but has struggled for consistency. Under new manager Domènec Torrent, from the Pep Guardiola coaching tree, Rayados still hope to make the knockout phase.
Inter Milan are also integrating a new manager. Cristian Chivu comes in after a disappointing end to their 24-25 campaign resulted in no trophies and a lot of heartbreak. Luis Henrique from Marseille is a new signing, but stars like Lautaro Martinez and Denzel Dumfries are still the heartbeat of the Nerazzurri. Inter Milan will be without striker Mehdi Taremi, a role player who is Iran’s international superstar, he is unable to leave Iran due to the ongoing war with Israel. Rayados will fight to be competitive here, but they are still facing one of Europe’s strongest teams, and the differences in fitness and stamina between Liga MX and Serie A remain stark. Inter Milan should start their campaign with a win, especially with how Inter Milan are disciplined defensively in tournament games. Prediction: Inter Milan 4 Monterrey 1
Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund (Tuesday in New York City)
Dortmund added midfielder Jobe Bellingham (Jude’s brother) from Sunderland in a massive transfer deal, two new defenders are also here for the team in yellow that finished 4th in the Bundesliga and exited in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Fluminense are a side that has struggled for consistency, they have started respectably in the Brazilian league this season though, and made it out of their Sudamericana group as well (the South American equivalent of the Europa League). Thiago Silva is their captain, 44 year old Fabio is in goal while Kevin Serna is their top scorer. Fluminense are a tricky team, but ultimately, Dortmund’s class should see them through as they start the campaign with a win. Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3 Fluminense 1
Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns (Tuesday in Orlando)
The match that may get the least amount of attention of this group, but represents a huge opportunity for both teams, Ulsan HD are 3rd in Korea’s K League right now but struggled mightily in the last AFC Champions League group with just 1 win and 6 defeats in 7 games. Brazilian Erick Farias is a key international star for Ulsan, while Jo Hyeon-woo has international experience as the goalkeeper.
Sundowns are South Africa’s best club, much of their starting XI are players who represent South Africa internationally, while Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro, Marcelo Allende from Chile, and Matias Esquivel from Argentina are the CONEMBOL attack engine for Sundowns. Sundowns won 24 out of 28 games in the recent South African league season and reached the final of the CAF Champions League, this side aren’t just one of the most talented in their region, they are playing well. Ulsan doesn’t give the same confidence, so look for Sundowns to shine in game 1. Prediction: Mamelodi Sundowns 2 Ulsan HD 0
Main Photo Credit: Copyright: xJONATHANxDUENASx Imago Images
