The action in Group F of the Club World Cup is coming to a close on Wednesday, with three teams vying for the two available spots in the round of 16. This includes South Africa`s Mamelodi Sundowns and Brazil`s Fluminense, who are scheduled to face each other at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Fluminense currently sits at the top of the group standings and can secure their advancement with just a draw on Wednesday. This positioning makes them one of the prime contenders, alongside Borussia Dortmund, to reach the round of 16. Mamelodi Sundowns, however, face a more challenging path. They must win their match on Wednesday and also hope for Borussia Dortmund to lose to Ulsan HD. This latter outcome is considered unlikely, as the South Korean side has already been eliminated from the competition.
Despite the odds, Sundowns should not be taken lightly. Although they lost 4-3 to Dortmund in their second group stage game, they provided strong competition for the German team. With a place in the next round at stake, along with the potential for an additional $7.5 million in prize money, they possess the motivation to make this another competitive match for 90 minutes.
Match Information and Odds
- Date: Wednesday, June 25 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Florida
- Odds: Mamelodi Sundowns +310; Draw +260; Fluminense -125
Group F Advancement Scenarios
Fluminense advance to the round of 16 with:
- A win or a draw against Mamelodi Sundowns.
- A loss to Mamelodi Sundowns AND Borussia Dortmund losing to Ulsan HD by the same or a larger goal difference as Fluminense`s loss.
Borussia Dortmund advance to the round of 16 with:
- A win or a draw against Ulsan HD.
- A loss to Ulsan HD AND Fluminense winning or drawing against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Mamelodi Sundowns advance to the round of 16 with:
- A win against Fluminense AND Borussia Dortmund losing to Ulsan HD.
Ulsan HD: Eliminated from the competition.
Predicted Lineups
Mamelodi Sundowns: Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Keanu Cupido, Divine Lunga, Teboho Mokoena, Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Themba Zwane, Marcelo Allende, Tashreeq Matthews, Iqraam Rayners
Fluminense: Fabio, Guga, Thiago Silva, Juan Pablo Freytes, Gabriel Fuentes, Matheus Martinelli, Hércules, Jhon Arias, Paulo Henrique Ganso, Kevin Serna, German Cano
Player to Watch
Jhon Arias, Fluminense: Fluminense`s offense found its rhythm in their recent 4-2 victory over Ulsan HD, largely spurred by Jhon Arias. The Colombia international contributed a goal and an assist in that match, helping his team ascend to the top of Group F. He is arguably the player most likely to help them maintain that position. Fluminense boasts several scoring threats, and Arias could potentially earn his third player of the match award with another strong performance.
Storyline to Watch
Can Sundowns cause an upset?: Fluminense are considered strong favorites for this match and to qualify for the next round, and for good reason. However, there is an argument to be made that Sundowns should not be written off. Their attacking display in the 4-3 game against Dortmund demonstrated their potential. Wednesday`s match will reveal if that performance was a one-off or if they can replicate that attacking mindset under high pressure. In the unlikely scenario that results favor them, they could be the sole African team in the last 16. Given their offensive capabilities and some defensive vulnerabilities shown by Fluminense in their win against Ulsan HD, there`s a possibility for an unpredictable outcome on Wednesday.
Prediction
While a match between two attack-minded teams holds inherent entertainment value, the balance leans heavily in Fluminense`s favor. The Brazilian side is expected to advance with relative comfort, continuing their country`s strong history in the Club World Cup. Predicted Score: Mamelodi Sundowns 1, Fluminense 3.
