Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns open their 2025 Fifa Club World Cup campaign in the wee hours of Wednesday morning at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Masandawana know they have to get a positive result against the South Korean outfit Ulsan HD to stand a chance of making it out of Group F.
Borussia Dortmund of the Bundesliga and South Americans Fluminense are the other members in the pool.
Recent Form and Head-to-Head Record
Prior to the prestigious global competition, the Tigers struggled for consistency in domestic assignments and will be hoping to bounce back in the United States.
Masandawana had a good run in South African top tier, winning it for the eighth time in a row. However, they were undone by Pyramids in the Caf Champions League final where they lost 3-2 in aggregate.
Ulsan HD last took part in the Club World Cup in 2020/21 edition after winning the AFC Champions League, but failed to make any significant progress following back-to-back losses. But while this will be their third Club World Cup, the Brazillians are playing their second.
In the head-to-head record, this will be the forst time the South Korean outfit will play against an African opposition.
However, Sundowns played Kashima Antlers and Jeonbuk in 2016 Club World Cup but ended up losing both games.
What They Said
“Me and all my staff are pretty excited. It is a one of the major events in world soccer and for the club for sure.
“The biggest one and after my life experience in football, I was made assistant coach in Champions League matches, Europa League matches. Club World Cup is a highlight in my career as a head coach.
“For me, it is a very particular position because last year, I was in another club [Esperance], which also qualified for the Club World Cup, so now to come back again with that possibility and be present with Mamelodi Sundowns to be present is obviously a career highlight on any coach and me quite a big achievement,” – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso told SABC Sport.
“We can surprise people, to be honest, we haven’t spoken about what team we need to win or what team we can afford to lose or something like this,” he said in his pre-match interview.
“It’s more like we take things game by game, it doesn’t matter who we will face, we will try to do our best and see if it’s enough. We won’t try to change, we will stick to our [identity], try to dominate, and if we lose, we can say the opponent is better you know.
“I think Dortmund is the best team in the group, it will be good to see they are, how good the players are and everything. So I think that game will be the toughest one for us. I don’t know a lot about football in South Africa, but if [Sundowns] are in the World Cup, it is a very good team. And if they lost a final, they should be ready for revenge to win something else and show a good performance at the tournament,” – Ulsan HD midfielder Darijan Bojanic
Team News & Starting XI
Neither team has reported injuries or knocks ahead of their Group F game, meaning coaches will have the pleasure of fielding their best players.
The Tigers have Erick Fariasis to rely on in terms of goals and assists, having managed to find the back of the net eight times this season.
Erick Fariasis is the Korean team's player to watch to make an impact for Ulsan HD, with the Brazilian midfielder scoring eight goals this season.
Mamelodi Sundowns did not add any new players in the special transfer window; Teboho Mokoena, Ronwen Williams, Iqraam Rayners and Lucas Ribeiro will be critical for Cardoso's outfit.
Ulsan HD probable XI: Hyeon-Woo, Sang-Woo, Young-Gwon, Myung-Gwan, Ludwigson, Woo-Young, Won-Sang, Bojanic, Seung-Beom, Jae-Seok, Farias
Sundowns probable XI: Williams, Mudau, Modiba, Lunga, Kekana, Mokoena, Adams, Allende, Ribeiro, Rayners, Sales.
Where to Watch
Those in Mzansi will be at liberty to follow the action live on SuperSport channel 203.
