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⚽ Bigging up the Brazilians
All four Brazilian clubs have qualified for the last 16, taking a few high-profile European scalps along the way. Are sides from Brazil much better than we assumed?
Euan Marshall
June 28, 2025
CLUB WORLD CUP
What explains Brazilian clubs’ top Club World Cup form?
Palmeiras players celebrate after securing a goal during their 2-0 triumph over Egypt’s Al Ahly SC at MetLife Stadium. Photo: Cesar Greco/Palmeiras
The group stage of the Club World Cup in the US is now in the books, and all four Brazilian representatives have progressed to the knockout rounds, upsetting the odds. Palmeiras and Flamengo even went as far as winning their respective groups.
In 12 games, Brazil’s participant clubs have only lost one match between them: Botafogo’s 1-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid, after the Rio de Janeiro side had already guaranteed qualification to the next round by beating Europe’s champions, PSG.
Brazilian clubs are enjoying the Club World Cup so much that the country’s FA is keen on hosting the next edition of the tournament in 2029. With Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay set to host matches of the 2030 World Cup, the premier men’s national team competition will not be returning to South America until 2042 at the very earliest…
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