FIFA Club World Cup Feature | Group F Preview: Dortmund vs Brazilian style - Asian & African teams seek breakthroughs

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup debuts in the United States with a fresh format, gathering 32 elite clubs for the pinnacle of inter-club competition. This edition spotlights Group F, where Germany’s “Bumblebees” Borussia Dortmund, Brazil's “Tricolor” Fluminense, South Korea’s relentless Ulsan HD FC, and South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns are are all ready for action. The group stage will be full of intense competition. Who can break through the encirclement of powerful opponents?

Germany’s “Bumblebees” Borussia Dortmund

As the traditional giants in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund were founded in 1909 and nicknamed the "Bumblebees". They rose rapidly after World War II. In German football, the fierce rivalry between Dortmund and Schalke 04 is known as the "Revierderby", while their encounters against Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are called the "Der Klassiker" — a testament to their formidable strength.

In the 1996-97 season, Borussia Dortmund defeated Juventus 3-1 to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time, and then lifted the Intercontinental Cup in December of the same year. The arrival of Jurgen Klopp in 2008 had a huge impact on Dortmund. Although unable to shake Bayern Munich's dominant position, the team still secured numerous championships. In domestic competitions, Dortmund have won 8 Bundesliga titles, 5 DFB-Pokal titles, and 6 German Super Cup titles in their history.

In this season, under the management of Nuri Sahin, Dortmund's performance fluctuated drastically. Despite the young coach's efforts, he was ultimately unable to meet expectations and was sacked. Niko Kovac took over as the new coach, and fortunately, the team secured a place in next season's UEFA Champions League, avoiding a completely dismal campaign.

Under Niko Kovac's leadership, Borussia Dortmund majorly play with a three-center-back system, showcasing tactical flexibility against top opponents. They emphasize high pressing and wing penetration, resulting in a powerful offensive force. However, their defensive stability is questionable. Guinea's attacking striker, Serhou Guirassy, has emerged as a sharp weapon in Dortmund's offensive line. With keen positioning sense, precise finishing, and exceptional heading ability, he has made 45 appearances for the "Bumblebees" across all competitions this season, scoring 34 goals and providing 6 assists. Although Dortmund failed to advance to the UEFA Champions League Semi-finals, Guirassy still tied for first place on the UEFA Champions League goalscorer list with 13 goals, alongside Raphinha.

Brazil's “Tricolor” Fluminense

Founded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1902, Fluminense is the first club in Brazil to be named after football and created the country's football league and championships, exerting a profound influence on Brazilian football. In 1970, Fluminense won their first Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A title, but later fell into a trough and competed in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie C until returning to Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A in 2000. In the 2023 Copa Libertadores final, Fluminense fought fiercely with Boca Juniors for 120 minutes and eventually won 2-1 to lift the championship trophy. This was the first Copa Libertadores title in the club's 121-year history and also secured a direct qualification to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup! In their history, Fluminense have won 4 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A titles, 1 Copa do Brasil, 33 Campeonato Carioca titles, 1 Copa Libertadores, and 1 Recopa Sudamericana. At the Club World Cup, the team lost to Manchester City in the 2023 final and finished as runners-up.

Fluminense is a typical South American possession football team, emphasizing ground passing as well as wing penetration. With a balanced offense and defense, they pose a great threat from set pieces, often delivering a fatal blow. Ganso is the midfield brain of the team. He excels at controlling the tempo on the field, has a broad vision, and strong ball control ability, serving as the playmaker. Since joining the team in 2019, he has followed the team to win important championships and has rich experience in major competitions.

South Korea’s relentless Ulsan HD FC

Ulsan HD, formerly Ulsan Hyundai FC, were founded in 1983. Three years later, they won the Korea League Cup. In 1996, the team won their first K League 1 championship. In 2012, they won the first AFC Champions League title in history. In 2017, they won the Korean FA Cup for the first time. From the 2022-2024 season, the team have achieved three consecutive championships in the K League 1! In December 2023, the club was officially renamed Ulsan HD. In their history, Ulsan HD have won the K League 1 5 times, the Korean FA Cup 1 time, the Korean League Cup 5 times, and the AFC Champions League 2 times. As the only Korean team in this year's Club World Cup, facing the pressure from European and American teams, Ulsan HD are determined to be the "guardian" of Asia and tear off the label of Asia as "mere bystanders".

In terms of tactics, Ulsan HD emphasize midfield pressing and quick transitions. They combine wing breakthroughs and crosses to create scoring opportunities in efficient counterattacks. The team's roster is majorly built around domestic players supplemented by foreign players, featuring strong cohesion. Brazilian player Erick Farias has made 14 appearances in the K League 1 this season, scoring 8 goals with extremely high efficiency, and he is able to take on offensive organization and breakthrough tasks. Besides, Ulsan HD have players familiar to fans, including former Chinese Super League key defender Kim Young Kwon and goalkeeper Jo Hyun Woo, who rose to fame in the World Cup.

South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns were founded in 1970. It is one of the most influential clubs in South Africa and is owned by South African business tycoon Patrice Motsepe. After experiencing many ups and downs, the team have reached the peak. Mamelodi Sundowns have won the National Soccer League (South Africa) 18 times. From the 2017-18 season to the 2024-25 season, the team have achieved 8 consecutive championships. In addition, the team have also won the CAF Champions League once and the CAF Super Cup once.

Mamelodi Sundowns are known for their unique attacking style. Through high-intensity running and quick passing, they overwhelm technically skilled opponents with physical dueling, while also leveraging set-piece tactics to seek scoring opportunities. The Mamelodi Sundowns squad mainly consists of South African players. The key player is the attacking midfielder Teboho Mokoena. The players are skilled at long-range shooting and can use set-pieces to lead counterattacks. As South African players, they have extremely strong physical qualities.

As the FIFA Club World Cup approaches, Group F is set to ignite with intense battles. The "Bumblebees" will meet the Brazilian powerhouse, while the Korean giants and the South African leaders vow to upset the odds. Who will ultimately dominate the group? The answer will be revealed in June!