Record champions Real Madrid vs Salzburg face off against Red Bull Salzburg in a crucial FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group H decider at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Both teams are tied on points, and qualification for the round of 16 hangs in the balance.
Match Overview
- Fixture: Real Madrid vs Red Bull Salzburg
- Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
- Time: 9:00 PM local / 01:00 GMT (Friday)
- Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
The winner of this tie will secure top spot in Group H. However, a draw could complicate things depending on the outcome of the Al Hilal vs Pachuca match.
Real Madrid So Far
Los Blancos have experienced mixed form in the tournament. After a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal—where Kylian Mbappe was absent with gastroenteritis—they secured a 3-1 win over Pachuca, despite going down to 10 men early in the game.
Goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Federico Valverde powered Madrid through after Raul Asencio’s early red card.
Salzburg’s Journey
The Austrian side defeated Pachuca 2-1 in their opening match but missed the chance to seal qualification after a goalless draw against Al Hilal. They now need a win to guarantee passage to the knockout stages, although certain permutations could still see them through with a draw or loss.
Mbappe Status & Real Madrid Team News
Kylian Mbappe has returned to training but is not in the matchday squad. Coach Xabi Alonso confirmed the forward is recovering well and could feature in later stages.
Defender Antonio Rudiger is expected to return from injury to replace suspended Raul Asencio. The rest of the squad, including Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Valverde, are expected to start.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup:
Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, F Garcia; Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Valverde, Mbappe (out), Vinicius Jr
Salzburg Injury Concerns
Takumu Kawamura, Alexander Schlager, and Moussa Yeo are all ruled out due to injury. Midfielder Maurits Kjaergaard could make his first start in eight months after recovering from an ankle issue.
Red Bull Salzburg Predicted Lineup:
Zawieschitzky; Lainer, Gadou, Ramussen, Kratzig; Bidstrup, Diabate; Nene, Gloukh; Onisiwo, Baidoo
Head-to-Head & Previous Encounters
This is only the second official meeting between the sides. Real Madrid thrashed Salzburg 5-1 earlier in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, with goals from Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr., and Mbappe.
Qualification Scenarios
- Real Madrid: A draw or win guarantees qualification. A loss could be dangerous if Al Hilal beat Pachuca.
- Salzburg: Must win to ensure progress. A draw or loss might be enough depending on Al Hilal’s result.
Form Guide
Real Madrid (All competitions):
W – W – W – D – W
Red Bull Salzburg (All competitions):
L – W – W – W – D
External Resources
Conclusion
The Real Madrid vs Salzburg FIFA Club World Cup showdown promises drama and high stakes. Will Madrid’s elite squad flex their strength, or can Salzburg pull off a group-stage shock? Follow all the action live on Al Jazeera Sport and check out updates at The Morning News Informer.
