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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