FIFA allowed clubs to reinforce their squads with an unusual 10-day transfer window before the tournament kicked off on June 14th, and many clubs took advantage of this special window to complete some deals, some last-minute, others earlier.

In this article, we take a look at the new stars that are already justifying the money their clubs spent on them in order to bring them to the new FIFA Club World Cup tournament.

🟡Jobe Bellingham: Dortmund’s Midfield Marvel

Pressed into action against Mamelodi Sundowns, Jobe Bellingham netted Borussia Dortmund’s third goal in a dramatic 4–3 win on June 21 with a composed finish—a true reflection of his fearlessness at just 19 years old.

Signed from Sunderland for around €33 million, the younger brother of Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, earned his first official Man of the Match award for his efforts in what was only his second game for the Black and Yellows.

As if that alone were not enough of a statement, Jobe Bellingham also provided the assist for Dortmund’s only goal and winner in their crucial final group game, in which they needed the victory to progress.

💫Rayan Cherki: From Lyon to London – Instant Impact

Rayan Cherki, Manchester City’s €40 million midfield prodigy, is already turning heads. He debuted in a 2–0 Group G victory over Wydad, where Pep Guardiola credited him with controlling tempo alongside new midfield partner Tijjani Reijnders.

Cherki truly shone in City’s 6–0 dismantling of Al Ain, slotting in a beautiful low volley following Haaland’s assist in the 89th minute to crown their stellar 6-0 showing against the Arabians.

That goal wasn’t just a number—it signalled City’s evolved identity with depth, youth, and flair. While not officially Man of the Match, the media praised his lasting influence in stabilising the midfield and producing the final polish.

🧠Dean Huijsen: Madrid’s New Toni Kroos

Defender Dean Huijsen arrived from Bournemouth for a hefty €60 million – and played his part in Real Madrid’s group stage opener, a 1–1 draw with Al-Hilal.

Although overshadowed by more high-profile teammates, Huijsen quietly excelled; however, it wasn’t until his second game against Pachuca, where Real Madrid played 83 minutes and more with 10 men, that the world was wowed.

Huijsen has already won the hearts of Madrid fans worldwide, with neutrals even noticing his special ball playing and playmaking ability as a defender, as outstanding.

Again, no official award, but anyone who watched Real Madrid’s game against the Mexicans singled him out for every single aspect of his game that day.

🎯Trent Alexander‑Arnold: Seamless Transition to Madrid

Trent Alexander-Arnold, in Madrid colours for the first time, had a good game vs. Al‑Hilal—but it wasn’t till in his second game for the Spanish giants that Madrid fans got a taste of what he is all about.

TAA orchestrated key moments, his inverted full-back role sparked Real’s opener, while his excellent passes definitely brought about the second goal, which Arda Guler notched for the 10-men Los Blancos.

While not Man of the Match, England’s former standout showed his creative intelligence on a big stage, adjusting to Xabi Alonso’s tactics with assurance and vision, so far validating Madrid’s €10m fee to bring him in earlier than planned.

⚽Liam Delap: No Wonder Jackson is Already Worried

Assisted Enzo Fernández in a polished debut vs. LAFC, earning plaudits, but then scored a beautiful solo effort against Esperance in the Blues' final group game and already earned himself “world-class” acclaim from pundits.

🔝Others Making Waves

 

Beyond the headliners, several other recent signings are carving their spots:

Mohamed Rek (Wydad Casablanca): Fresh off a mid-season switch, Rek showed flashes of pace and direct threat, even in a losing cause against City.

Jonathan Tah & Tom Bischof (Bayern Munich): While late additions, they’ve featured in the team’s initial setup against Boca, offering calm leadership in defence.

🔥What Makes These Breakouts Special

They share unmistakable traits:

1. Immediate Impact – Each scored or assisted on debut or early appearance.

2. Boots-on-the-Ground Success – No smoothing-in required.

3. Strategic Fit – Cherki in midfield, Huijsen securing, Jobe balancing Dortmund.

4. Media Moment – Each performance hit headlines.

🔚Final Take:

What started as a tournament spotlighting club prestige has quickly become a showcase of transfer-fuelled brilliance. These players have answered hopes and so much more.

Jobe Bellingham’s first blistering strike, Cherki’s spark in Manchester, Huijsen’s calmness, Trent’s creative switch, and all tell the same story: big money doesn’t guarantee impact, but potential met with performance is the new currency.

As the knockout stage approaches, all eyes will be glued to them. In just a few games, these signings may have rewritten their careers and shifted how clubs scout the CWC—a new pathway where global exposure meets opportunity, and where a tournament performance can define a future.

 

🔗You can check out the FIFA CWC games here on MSport.

 

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With the final round of the group games at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup already underway after last week’s thrilling second round of games, we have reviewed the big headlines from last week’s games in this review.

The likes of Real Madrid and Inter secured wins in dramatic fashion without a shortage of controversy and nerves, while the likes of Man City, Bayern Munich, Flamengo and Juventus all secured qualifications to the next round.

⚪Xabi‑ball Takes Off: Madrid’s 3–1 Win Reinforces Alonso’s Philosophy⚽

Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid era erupted into life with a 3–1 victory over Pachuca in Charlotte. Despite playing with a man down from the 7th minute due to a red card, Madrid showcased resilience and tactical control.

Jude Bellingham opened the scoring, Arda Güler added another before halftime, and Fede Valverde sealed the deal—each goal illuminating Alonso's blend of youth integration and positional fluidity.

Thibaut Courtois also made a competition-high 10 saves, proving Madrid’s backline remains traditionally robust under this new vision.

😒 City Storm In: Six Goals, Five Scorers⚡

In Atlanta, Manchester City demolished Al Ain 6–0, continuing their ruthless brand of football.

Ilkay Gündogan struck twice, Haaland converted a penalty, and Rayan Cherki, Echeverri, and Oscar Bobb rounded out the tally.

Pep Guardiola rotated his squad—introducing several new starters—affirming City’s unmatched depth heading into tougher rounds.

🔵Inter Wins at the Death: Carboni’s Dramatic Seattle Finisher⏱️

Inter Milan overcame Urawa Red Diamonds 2–1 in a rollercoaster Group E clash in Seattle.

Urawa took an early lead, but Lautaro Martinez equalised in the 78th minute. Then, in stoppage time, teenage substitute Valentin Carboni delivered the winner—an emotional example of Inter’s late-game resolve.

With 26 shots compared to Urawa’s five, Inter showed their attacking dominance, even when under pressure.

🌍African Clubs on the Cusp: Continental Hope in Danger⚠️

The four African representatives in this historic competition are in precarious positions. Here's how each is faring:

🔴Al Ahly (Egypt): Joined Wydad on Flight Home

Al Ahly, perhaps the side we thought could go furthest of all four of Africa’s clubs, are the second side after Wydad to book their flight home from the competition.

The red flag started waving when they kicked off their tournament with a gritty 0–0 draw against Inter Miami.

After a loss and a draw in subsequent fixtures against Palmeiras and Porto, respectively, the Egyptian club’s journey ended at the group stages.

🟡Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Mamelodi Sundowns earned Africa’s first win in this CWC format, beating Ulsan Hyundai 1–0 courtesy of an Iqraam Rayners strike.

Dominating possession (over 59%) but lacking a clinical edge, Sundowns played out an exhilarating game against Borussia Dortmund in their second group game, where they fell short by just a goal in a 3-4 defeat.

Now in 3rd place on 3 points, the South African side will need a miracle in their game against group leaders Fluminense and a favour from Uslan in their final group game against Dortmund to stand a chance of qualifying.

🔴Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

Morocco’s hope, Wydad Casablanca, suffered a heavy 4–1 defeat to Juventus in their second group game, making it two defeats from two games, which means they are the first African side to be knocked out.

In their final group game against Al Ain, who are also without a single point so far, Wydad will be playing for pride and perhaps the $2m on offer for winning.

🟡Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)

Esperance’s story is very similar to that of Mamelodi Sundowns, having managed 3 points after two games and only hope of qualification being by beating a very tough side in Chelsea in their final group game.

⚽The Big Picture: Europe Flexes Power, South Americans Make Statement, & Africa Scrambles

Europe’s giants—Bayern, City, PSG, Madrid, and Inter—are asserting dominance. Their performances span stylistic elegance (Alonso’s Madrid), attacking breadth (City’s depth), and clutch mentality (Inter’s grit).

The African quartet, however, show mixed fortunes: Sundowns and Esperance still have room to progress, albeit a slim one; while Al Ahly and Wydad are already victims of the huge gap in footballing fortunes and the divide of investments.

Then there are the South Americans who are set to make it ahead of some big household names like Atletico Madrid, FC Porto and quite possibly, Benfica if Boca Juniors can put 7+ goals in Auckland City’s net and have Bayern do them a solid.

⁉️What Comes Next:

🔥Madrid vs Salzburg (June 27): Can Alonso’s structure hold up?

🔥City vs Juventus (June 26): Pep’s Juve Hoodoo Breaks?

🔥Inter vs River Plate (June 26): Pedigree over Form?

🔥Esperance vs Chelsea (June 25): Maresca’s Bottling or Easy Night?

🔥Benfica vs Bayern Munich (June 24): European Classic?

🔚Final Take:

For fans, scouts, and investors, this tournament is more than a contest—it’s a stage of extremes. Elite squads expand legends; underdogs fight for survival.

And for those watching closely, every goal, from grit to glory, writes a story of risk, resilience, and revelation.

You can check out the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup games on MSport.

 

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With the weekend here again, you know what that means for football lovers. More games for us, and with more games comes more opportunities to cash out.

So in this article, we’ve taken a look at the top games featuring in all three of MSport’s Most Followed Booking Codes prepared by MSport users on its betting platform.

As you can expect, most of the booking codes on the platform this weekend are full of games from the ongoing 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, with the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter, Juventus and Dortmund all in action. So let’s begin with the biggest club in the world.

⚪Real Madrid vs Pachuca🔵: Must-win Game for Xabi Alonso’s Los Blancos

After playing out a thrilling 1-1 draw with Saudi’s Al Ahlal in their opening game of the competition, Real Madrid now turn their attention to Mexican club Pachuca, a side they recently beat 3-0 in the final of the Intercontinental Cup last season.

With a lot of criticisms coming the way of new manager Xabi Alonso and the team after they missed the opportunity to take all 3 points against Simeone Inzaghi’s side, missing a penalty late in the contest, Alonso will certainly be coming into this one with a higher level of seriousness.

Their opponents lost their first group game 2-1 to Red Bull Salzburg, who now top the group, and if they don’t want to be one of the first teams to exit this competition, then they would have to produce something special against the all-time most winners of the FIFA Club World Cup.

With star man, Kylian Mbappe, who scored against Pachuca the last time but is out sick this time and will miss the game on Sunday, can Xabi Alonso’s misfiring team get the job done against Pachuca?

Real Madrid form (all competitions):

W🟢L🔴W🟢W🟢W🟢D🟡

Pachuca form (all competitions):

L🔴W🟢D🟡L🔴W🟢L🔴

 

🌍Africa’s Sundowns & Wydad ⚔️Face Touch Tests in Dortmund & Juventus💪

South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club continue their historic FIFA Club World Cup journeys with huge games against German giants Dortmund and Italian powerhouses, Juventus.

Sundowns are having a much better time so far at the tournament than their Moroccan counterparts, having won their first game against the South Korean side Ulsan HD FC 1-0, while Wydad, despite a brave showing, lost their opening game to Man City 2-0.

With Wydad desperately needing points to avoid an early elimination from the competition against a Juve side that stormed to a 4-0 win in their first game against UAE’s Al Ain, Amine Benhachem will have to try something new and bolder in this one.

For Sundowns, their opponents, Dortmund, managed only one point from their opening game against Brazil’s Fluminense (0-0), and will be eager to put that right by getting all 3 points on offer against the South Africans.

Mamelodi Sundowns form (all competitions):

W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢D🟡L🔴

Vs.

Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions):

W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢W🟢D🟡

Juventus form (all competitions):

W🟢D🟡D🟡W🟢W🟢W🟢

Vs.

Wydad AC form (all competitions):

W🟢W🟢W🟢L🔴L🔴L🔴

🔵Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds🔴: Can Japanese Side Upset Already Frustrated 😒Nerazzurri?

An Inter Milan side under new management after Simeone Inzaghi left for Saudi Arabia, could only manage a 1-1 draw against Mexico’s Monterrey in their first game of the Chivu era and will be looking to course correct against a supposedly weaker side.

The Japanese side succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of River Plate in their opening game and now must overcome an even bigger side in their second game or face elimination.

Inter Milan form (all competitions):

W🟢W🟢D🟡W🟢L🔴D🟡

Vs.

Urawa Red Diamonds form (all competitions):

W🟢D🟡L🔴D🟡W🟢L🔴

The Three (3) Most Followed Booking Codes on MSport

🤑B3Y5BNK (7 Games 7 Odds) – 7 UP

This seven-game slip features three (3) FIFA Club World Cup games analysed above and four (4) games from the international CONCACAF tournament, the Gold Cup.

With a 7.44 odds total including bonuses, this slip has only two market options in the straight wins and double chance options, with the biggest odds for Jamaica to win Guadeloupe at 1.48 and the least odd an Inter win over Uwara at 1.21.

🤑B3YPNLT (9 Games 35 Odds) - Perfect 9

With 5 FIFA Club World Cup games and 4 U21 European Championship games, this user’s slip has a bit of everything here, with over/under markets and straight wins featuring across all nine games.

However, there seems to be a pattern to the markets selected by this customer, with the straight wins selected only for the U21 Euros and the over/under chosen for the CWC games.

Portugal to win over the Netherlands at 2.36 is the biggest odds in this bet slip, with under 5.5 goals in the Flamengo vs Chelsea game at 1.01 odds, the least.

🤑B3YPR28 (8 Games 50+ Odds) – The Big Bad Wolf

As we always do in these articles, we’ve reserved the best for last with “this everything goes” bet slip, where this customer made it a point to not select any market options from your usual suspects.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have Handicaps, Multigoals, Double Chance & under 4.5 goals all making an appearance in this bet slip with odds ranging from 1.21 to 4.30.

That’s all for this edition of the MSport Most Followed Booking Codes. Good luck and remember to stake your bet responsibly.

🔗You can check out these games & more on MSport.

 

@followers @topfans

#MSport #FIFACWC #FIFAClubWorldCup #USAClubWorldCup #2025FIFAClubWorldCup

Very often, in more times than not, how much a team’s squad costs very likely has a direct relation to how well they play or do on the field of play, unless, of course, they are called “Manchester United”.

So, take the most valuable clubs in Europe, for instance. The Real Madrids, Man Cities, Barcelonas and PSGs are the same teams that dominate European football.

The principle is not much different in this FIFA Club World Cup tournament, as we saw in the opening round of fixtures, how much the unbalanced money dynamics affect the results of a fixture.

An 843-million-euros-valued Bayern Munich put 10 unanswered goals past an Auckland City, valued at just 5 million euros.

So in this article, we have taken a look at the four other least expensive teams and squads at this FIFA Club World Cup and the games against much bigger oppositions that they could lose by huge margins for our “investors”.

⚪Auckland City (Oceania):

Auckland City, valued at roughly €5 million, is the least valued club in the FIFA CWC, and they kick us off. With part-time players balancing day jobs and training only a few times weekly, Auckland lacks the professional depth.

This New Zealand club looks set to lose all their 2 remaining Group C games against Benfica (364m euros) and Boca Juniors (78m euros), after both teams drew 2-2 against each other.

🔢Games & Prediction:

June 22 – Benfica vs Auckland City: Portuguese team to win by at least 4 goals.

June 24 – Auckland City vs Boca Juniors: Argentinian team to win by at least 4 goals.

🔴Ulsan Hyundai (Asia):

Ulsan Hyundai from the South Korean League is the second least expensive squad in the FIFA CWC, valued at just 15 million euros. Having already lost their opening Group F game against Mamelodi Sundowns, the sixth-least expensive side, Ulsan faces stiffer challenges ahead.

Fluminense’s Brazilian flair and attacking speed, with Dortmund’s experienced European talented side, could prove too much, especially with both teams needing wins after their 0-0 draw.

🔢Games & Prediction:

June 21 – Fluminense vs Ulsan: Home to win by at least 3 goals.

June 25 – Dortmund vs Ulsan: German side to win by at least 4 goals.

🔴Wydad Athletic Club (Africa):

After a respectable 0–2 loss to Manchester City, the second most expensive squad in the competition and the favourites to top the group, Wydad’s next huge fixture is against 632 million valued Juventus in Group G.

While Al Ain are valued at 45 million, at least 20 million more than Wydad, the gap does not suggest a level imbalance we’re speaking about, and that, in addition to Wydad’s impressive showing against City, makes us believe Juventus will be their only other huge challenge in this group.

🔢Games & Prediction:

June 22 – Juventus vs Wydad: Italian team to win by at least two goals.

🔴Urawa Red Diamonds (Asia):

Japanese side Urawa began their campaign with a 3–1 loss to 114 million valued River Plate on June 17, but they have two matches left against sides with more expensive squads than theirs in Mexico’s Monterrey (€ 69m) and Inter Milan (€ 703m).

After a 1-1 draw between the Italian side and Monterrey, one can expect that both teams would be out for blood against the smallest side in Group E.

🔢Games & Prediction:

June 21 – Inter Milan vs Urawa: Home to win by 4 goals.

June 25 – Urawa vs Monterrey: Away to win by 3 goals.

🟡Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Africa):

Esperance opened their Group D schedule on June 17 with a 2-0 defeat to Brazil’s € 221m valued Flamengo. Now they have to turn their attention to the USA’s LAFC and England’s Chelsea.

While LAFC are not that much more expensive a squad than Tunis at € 51 m but because they lost their first game against Chelsea, they could be out for blood but it still should be a pretty even game, unlike their date with € 972m valued Blues.

🔢Games & Prediction:

June 25 – Esperance vs Chelsea: Away to win by at least 2 goals.

⁉️Why Investors Should Pay Attention:

These five teams operate with minimal budgets and players not yet world stars with huge transfer market values, but the Club World Cup places them on the world stage against teams that do.

Heavy losses are all but inevitable against elite opposition, but standout individuals—whether a gritty defender, a skilful dribbler, a tenacious goalkeeper or a tactical manager—could always have a say in the outcomes of these games.

 

NB: All figures are sourced from Transfermrkt.com

 

You can check out these games here on MSport.

 

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