As the group stages of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 near their dramatic conclusion, four more teams—Monterrey, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and Fluminense—have punched their tickets to the knockout rounds after thrilling wins and high-stakes draws on Wednesday.
Monterrey Smash Urawa Reds With Four-Goal Masterclass
Monterrey stormed into the last 16 with an emphatic 4-0 win over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena. A blistering trio of first-half goals set the tone for the Mexican side, who secured second place in Group E behind Inter Milan.
Nelson Deossa opened the scoring with a sensational long-range strike in the 30th minute. German Berterame quickly followed with a composed finish just four minutes later before Jesus Corona fired home the pick of the bunch with a curling effort from distance in the 38th.
Berterame rounded off the scoring deep into stoppage time to seal the thumping win. Coach Domenec Torrent was delighted: “We’re very happy to be in the next stage with a clean sheet. It wasn’t easy in this group.”
Monterrey now face Group F winners Borussia Dortmund in a high-octane Round of 16 clash.
Inter Milan Eliminate River Plate in Seattle Showdown
Inter Milan secured top spot in Group E with a 2-0 win over River Plate at Lumen Field, Seattle. Goals from teenage sensation Francesco Esposito and defender Alessandro Bastoni saw the European giants past a fiery River side reduced to nine men.
“The first half was tough. They surprised us with their pressure,” admitted Inter coach Christian Chivu. “But we responded well in the second half.”
River’s discipline crumbled under pressure. Lucas Martinez was dismissed for a reckless tackle on Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Gonzalo Montiel followed after a second yellow. Their elimination ends Argentina’s hopes in the tournament, with rivals Boca Juniors also knocked out earlier.
Esposito’s breakthrough goal in the 72nd minute came after relentless pressure. Bastoni ensured the result with a precise finish late on, and Inter now face Fluminense in the next round.
Fluminense Advance Despite Stalemate With Sundowns
Brazil’s Fluminense did just enough to qualify, grinding out a 0-0 draw against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The result placed them second in Group F behind Dortmund, who narrowly defeated Ulsan HD 1-0.
While all four African clubs have exited the tournament, Sundowns left with heads held high. “We go home stronger than when we came,” said coach Miguel Cardoso.
Fluminense’s well-drilled defense was enough to see them through, but they’ll need more attacking fluency to challenge Inter in the knockouts.
Knockout Stage Taking Shape
The current Round of 16 matchups are beginning to promise blockbuster football:
- Monterrey vs Borussia Dortmund
- Inter Milan vs Fluminense
More fixtures will be finalized after Manchester City face Juventus and Real Madrid meet RB Salzburg on Thursday in high-stakes Group G and H deciders.
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Conclusion
With Monterrey, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and Fluminense all safely into the Round of 16, the 2025 Club World Cup continues to thrill fans across the globe. More drama awaits as European and South American giants now face off in do-or-die showdowns.
For more updates and live match reports, follow The Morning News Informer’s Club World Cup Coverage.
