South American Challengers In FIFA Club World Cup 2025: River Plate, Flamengo And Other Top Teams To Challenge Giants of Soccer
South American Confederation will have six representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup, hoping the continent can produce a worthy winner in this newly styled Competition. The South American national teams have succeeded in the World Cups, but at the club level, they have struggled over the years. Let us go through the teams representing the continent in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
South American Teams in the Club World Cup 2025
Botafogo
Botafogo qualified courtesy of its Copa Libertadores win in 2024, the Brazilian side is among the BIG 12 in Brazilian football, winning 3 Brazilian championships in 1968, 1995 and 2024. With key players like 24-year-old striker Igor Jesus, who bagged an impressive 46 goals in 92 matches, Jefferson Savarino is another influential winger who will bring bite to the team. In the same group as Seattle Sounders, PSG and Atletico Madrid.
River Plate
One of two Argentine representatives alongside rivals Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup. They are the winners of the 1986 version of the Club World Cup predecessor competition.
River booked their place at the FIFA CWC via the ranking pathway. The win against Libertad on the fifth matchday of Group H of the 2024 Copa Libertadores allowed them to advance to the knockout stages of the competition and, more importantly, guaranteed their place among the 32 teams that will compete in the first extended edition of the Club World Cup in the USA.
Palmeiras
One of the 6 representatives from CONEMOBOL and 4 from Brazil. They qualified for the Club World Cup via the back-to-back 2020-2021 Copa Libertadores win. In the same group as Inter Miami, FC Porto and Al Ahly, players like Chelsea-bound Estavao will lead the Brazilian giants against European sides FC Porto, Al Ahly and Inter Miami and will fancy their chances. 11 league titles, this is the only elusive title for Palmeiras compared to rivals like Corinthians, Sau Paulo and Santos who have won it, Palmeiras will be determined to win it this year.
Flamengo
Another Brazilian side that looks like a more dangerous proposition than many would seem to agree, given the quality of players at its disposal. Boasting 6 players called up by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti at the last World Cup qualifiers, this Flamengo side will hope to prey on the tiredness of rival European and African teams to qualify from this group that has Esperance, Chelsea and Los Angeles FC.
One key player to watch is Giorgian de Arrascaeta. The Uruguayan midfielder has registered 12 goals and 6 assists this season and will be Pivotal. Claiming its third Copa Libertadores crown in 2022 qualified the Brazilian giants for the Club World Cup.
Fluminense
Finishing third at the 2023 Club World Cup to Manchester City, they return to go a step further by winning this year’s edition in a group that comprises Ulsan, Borussia Dortmund and Mamelodi Sundowns. They qualified by winning the 2023 Copa Libertadores, beating Boca Juniors in the final and players like John Kennedy, who scored the winner, will be instrumental to success.
Boca Juniors
Despite not participating in the 2024 edition of the Copa Libertadores, their performance in the 2023 edition, losing to Fluminense in the final, gained them enough points to qualify for the global showpiece. They will surely fancy their chances against Benfica and Auckland City, while Bayern Munich will be approached delicately.
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