FIFA Club World Cup Round 1 Tips & Predictions

The FIFA Club World Cup gets underway in the United States, as the best teams on the planet face off in the new-look 32 team tournament.

By a quirk of the format, Manchester City are the reigning champions, having won it in its former guise back in 2023 but this should be a fascinating competition, with Europe’s biggest and best locking horns with teams from South America, Asia and the Americas.

Common thinking would suggest that a European team is best resourced to win this event, but it should be a riveting tournament, culminating in the 2025 Club World Cup final on 13^th July in New Jersey.

Here are our FIFA Club World Cup predictions for the opening round of fixtures:

FIFA Club World Cup Round 1 Predictions

—

Al Ahly vs Inter Miami

Betting Tip: Inter Miami to win the match @ $2.05

BET NOW

Al Ahly ($3.60)

Inter Miami ($2.05)

Draw ($3.85)

Egyptian giants Al Ahly will be desperate to get their Club World Cup campaign off to a good start, as they take on Inter Miami. Having been the dominant force in Egyptian football for the past few years, Al Ahly will be desperate to put down a marker here and could relish being the underdogs of sorts. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will be attracting plenty of attention in this tournament and they look well placed to rattle into some of the so-called big boys. This will be a tight one, with Inter Miam perhaps best placed to prevail.

Inter Miami to win 2-1

—

Bayern Munich vs Auckland City

Betting Tip: Bayern Munich to win the match @ $1.03

BET NOW

Bayern Munich ($1.03)

Auckland City ($161.00)

Draw ($56.00)

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are amongst the front runners to win the whole tournament, and they look to have a comfortable start here against Auckland City. The Kiwi outfit will enjoy their day in the sun, but Bayern could put them to the sword in this one.

Bayern Munich to win 6-0

—

PSG vs Atletico Madrid

Betting Tip: The match to finish as a draw @ $3.80

BET NOW

PSG ($1.94)

Atletico Madrid ($4.10)

Draw ($3.80)

European champions PSG take on Atletico Madrid, in what should be a bumper encounter. PSG come into this one fresh off the back of their iconic Champions League and confidence should be high, but Atletico are always tough to beat in tournament football, and this could turn out to be a draw.

1-1 Draw

—

Palmeiras vs FC Porto

Betting Tip: FC Porto to win the match @ $2.63

BET NOW

Palmeiras ($2.87)

FC Porto ($2.63)

Draw ($3.35)

FC Porto could sneak under the radar in this tournament, and they look to have a tough opening task here against Palmeiras. The Brazilians will be bang up for this and will be tough to beat but Porto are a well organised side, and they should manage to get off to a winning start in the FIFA Club World Cup here.

FC Porto to win 2-1

—

Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders

Betting Tip: Botafogo to win the match @ $1.87

BET NOW

Botafogo ($1.87)

Seattle Sounders ($4.50)

Draw ($3.80)

Another South American giant get their campaign under way in this one, as Botafogo take on Seattle Sounders. Representing the MLS on the global stage will be a key incentive for the Sounders, who are a decent side, but Botafogo could be more accustomed to tournament football, and they should get off to a winning start.

Botafogo to win 2-0

—

Chelsea vs LAFC

Betting Tip: Chelsea to win the match @ $1.36

BET NOW

Chelsea ($1.36)

LAFC ($9.00)

Draw ($5.50)

Chelsea will be one of the European sides hoping to go all the way here at the Club World Cup and they have an awkward looking start to the tournament here against LAFC. The blues are a side with some decent talents in their midst and if they can begin to fire, they could be a match for anybody on their day. LAFC have nothing to lose in this one and will be up for the challenge, but Chelsea should see them off.

Chelsea to win 3-1

—

Boca Juniors vs Benfica

Betting Tip: Benfica to win the match @ $1.93

BET NOW

Boca Juniors ($4.20)

Benfica ($1.93)

Draw ($3.75)

Boca Juniors will be flying the flag for South America in this one and it should be a compelling clash between them and Benfica here. Both sides will fancy their chances of enjoying a good tournament here and while Boca will be well backed, Benfica should have enough about them to prevail in this hotly contested opener.

Benfica to win 2-1

—

Flamengo vs Esperance de Tunis

Betting Tip: Flamengo to win the match @ $1.33

BET NOW

Flamengo ($1.33)

Esperance de Tunis ($10.50)

Draw ($5.60)

Flamengo are seen by many as the best equipped side outside of Europe to go all the way and they get their campaign underway against Esperance de Tunis. The Tunisians are rank outsiders in this competition and will enjoy the ride, but Flamengo won’t be in the mood for showing them any mercy here and should win comfortably.

Flamengo to win 3-0

—

Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund

Betting Tip: Borussia Dortmund to win the match @ $1.55

BET NOW

Fluminense ($6.25)

Borussia Dortmund ($1.55)

Draw ($4.60)

German giants Borussia Dortmund didn’t live up to the hype following their impressive run to the 2024 Champions League final but should be up for the challenge here in the USA. Fluminense are a potentially tough first opponent and this won’t be a forgone conclusion, but Dortmund should have enough about them to prevail.

Borussia Dortmund to win 2-1

—

River Plate vs Urawa Red Diamonds

Betting Tip: River Plate to win the match @ $1.60

BET NOW

River Plate ($1.60)

Urawa Red Diamonds ($6.25)

Draw ($4.10)

Argentinian giants River Plate will be backed to the hilt here in the United States and they will be looking for a winning start against the Urawa Red Diamonds. The Japanese side will be industrious and will make things tough for River Plate, but some South American flair could well make the difference in this one.

River Plate to win 2-1

—

Ulsan Hyundai Horangi vs Sundowns FC

Betting Tip: The match to finish as a draw @ $3.50

BET NOW

Ulsan Hyundai Horangi ($2.60)

Sundowns FC ($2.90)

Draw ($3.50)

South Korean giants Ulsan take on South African behemoths Sundowns FC, in what should be a very good one to open up for both sides. Ascertaining how they will fare against one and other is difficult and with both sides well matched on paper, a draw could be on the agenda.

1-1 Draw

—

CF Monterrey vs Inter Milan

Betting Tip: Inter Milan to win the match @ $1.52

BET NOW

CF Monterrey ($6.25)

Inter Milan ($1.52)

Draw ($5.00)

Mexican side CF Monterrey will have plenty of supporters here in the Club World Cup and they should be bang up for this one against Inter Milan. Fresh off the back of their Champions League final humbling, Inter could be in need of some soul searching here but they should have enough quality to pick up all three points.

Inter Milan to win 3-1

—

Manchester City vs WAC Casablanca

Betting Tip: Manchester City to win the match @ $1.10

BET NOW

Manchester City ($1.10)

WAC Casablanca ($34.00)

Draw ($11.00)

Moroccan side WAC Casablanca will be relishing the chance to take on Manchester City in their opener and the new-look blues are a very interesting proposition. WAC have absolutely nothing to lose and could pose a few problems for City, but Pep Guardiola’s men will be eager to hit the ground running here in the USA.

Manchester City to win 2-0

—

Real Madrid vs Al Hilal

Betting Tip: Real Madrid to win the match @ $1.25

BET NOW

Real Madrid ($1.25)

Al Hilal ($12.00)

Draw ($6.75)

Xabi Alonso’s first game in charge of Real Madrid promises to be an intriguing one, as they take on Al Hilal. Plenty of attention is on Madrid here, as they look to move on from the Carlo Ancelotti era and they should have enough in the tank to see off the challenge of Al Hilal in this one.

Real Madrid to win 4-1

—

CF Pachuca vs Red Bull Salzburg

Betting Tip: The match to finish as a draw @ $3.45

BET NOW

CF Pachuca ($3.10)

Red Bull Salzburg ($2.45)

Draw ($3.45)

Both CF Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg will be relishing the opportunity to feature in the Club World Cup here in the United States and this looks one of the toughest games to call on paper. All three results feel very much in play here, so a draw could be the logical prediction.

2-2 Draw

—

Al Ain vs Juventus

Betting Tip: Juventus to win the match @ $1.22

BET NOW

Al Ain ($13.00)

Juventus ($1.22)

Draw ($7.00)

Italian giants Juventus have snuck under the radar a touch in the build up to the Club World Cup but should be raring to go in the States. Al Ain will provide a stern, first test but Juve should be well up for it and look well placed to get off to a winning start.

Juventus to win 3-0

—

FIFA Club World Cup R1 Multi bet

—

We’re backing four results in this round, as an accumulator, with a betting stake of $50:

Al Ain vs Juventus – Juventus
Chelsea vs LAFC – Chelsea
CF Monterrey vs Inter Milan – Inter Milan
Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund – Borussia Dortmund

Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan & Borussia Dortmund @ $4.52

Bet Now

Sports Writer

Sam Hayes

Combining his sports coaching career with freelance journalism, Sam is a sports betting writer for various online publications.

He is looking to develop both his respective coaching and writing careers, whilst incorporating his other huge passion - travelling the world.

Sam currently lives and works in Milan, Italy and playing/following/writing about cricket, football (soccer), tennis, formula 1 and golf continue to take up much of his spare time.