Kinshasa, June 26th, 2025 (CPA).- The four African representatives in the Club World Cup were eliminated at the end of the group stage of this global competition, held from 15 June to 13 July in the United States of America, according to the website of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), consulted on Thursday by the CPA. South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, whose only chance of qualifying for the round of 16 was a must-win victory over Brazil’s Fluminense, only managed a draw, which meant they were eliminated. « With their backs against the wall and needing to beat Fluminense FC to reach the round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Mamelodi Sundowns failed to secure the precious victory they so desperately needed. Silent against a Brazilian team in control to secure its place in the knockout stage, the South Africans failed to make their offensive football count, » the report said. According to FIFA statistics consulted by the ACP on Thursday, Mamelodi Sundowns finished third in Group F with four points from three games, behind Borussia Dortmund of Germany (seven points) and Fluminense of Brazil (five points), while Ulsan HD of South Korea, bottom of the group, failed to win a single game. Eliminated, Mamelodi Sundowns followed in the footsteps of the three other African clubs competing in this Club World Cup, after WAC (Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca) of Morocco, Al Ahly of Egypt and Espérance Sportive of Tunisia. In Group A, Al Ahly of Egypt finished in fourth and last place with two points from three games, including two draws and one defeat, behind Palmeiras of Brazil (five points, +2), Inter Miami of the United States of America (five points, +1) and Porto of Portugal (two points, -1).
In Group D, Espérance de Tunisie, which finished third (2 points, -4), was overtaken by Chelsea of England (2nd, 6 points) and Flamengo of Brazil (1st, 7 points), while Los Angeles of the United States of America brought up the rear with 1 point. In Group G, WAC (0 points, 2 matches), which finished in third place, is already eliminated, pending its final match against Al Ain FC of Saudi Arabia. The four African clubs have joined the list of teams that have been eliminated, which includes Al Ain FC (Saudi Arabia), Atlético de Madrid (Spain), Auckland City (New Zealand), Boca Juniors and River Plate (Argentina), Los Angeles FC (United States of America), Pachuca (Mexico), FC Porto (Portugal), Seattle Sounders (United States of America), Ulsan HD (South Korea) and Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan). The first and second teams in each of the eight groups qualify for the round of 16, which will begin on Saturday 28 June. FIFA provides details here on the teams that have already qualified and those that have been eliminated from the tournament.
Clubs that have qualified for the round of 16
(Group A): Palmeiras (Brazil) and Inter Miami CF (United States of America), (Group B): Paris Saint-Germain (France) and Botafogo (Brazil), (Group C): SL Benfica of Portugal and FC Bayern Munich of Germany, (Group D): Flamengo of Brazil and Chelsea FC of England, (Group E): Inter Milan of Italy and Monterrey of Mexico, (Group F): Borussia Dortmund of Germany and Fluminense of Brazil (Group G): Juventus of Italy and Manchester City of England.