Mosa Lebusa of Mamelodi Sundowns in action with Jhon Arias of Fluminense during the Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium on 25 June 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo: Chris Brunskill / Fantasista / Getty Images) 
Mamelodi Sundowns went into their final Group F game at the Club World Cup, versus Brazil’s Fluminense, knowing that victory was imperative for their hopes of being the only African team to qualify for the global tournament’s knockout phase.
With Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca and Esperance already eliminated the hopes of Africa rested squarely on Sundowns’ shoulders. However, instead of claiming a decisive win, Masandawana wasted a number of opportunities during a match that eventually concluded with a 0-0 draw in Miami on Wednesday, 25 June 2025.
Fluminense knew that a draw would be sufficient for their own hopes of reaching the next round. Such a result would not be good enough for the South African champions though. Despite an urgent start that saw Masandawana take the fight to the Brazilian club while hogging almost 70% of the possession, they just could not find the back of the net.
Better than before
Nevertheless, Sundowns walk away from the expanded global club contest as the best-performing African team. One win, one draw and one defeat leaves them on four points — the most of any of their continental rivals. Still, this was not good enough to make it to the last 16.
“There are teams that came to the World Cup and walked away with no points. But Mamelodi Sundowns walked away from the competition with a lot of things. We took points, we made four points… We take away prestige and the fact that we’ve made the club even more well known in the world,” said Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso.
“I’ve had messages from people I was not expecting, I don’t even know how they got my number. But it’s people from international football throughout the world… This means that Sundowns played at the highest level. But we are not happy, not at all,” Cardoso continued.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2220636960-1.jpg "Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso in Florida. (Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)")
“But I’m proud of the capacity that the players showed. We go back to our country with our heads up, because we are much stronger compared to when we came here. Much stronger,” the Portuguese coach stated.
This new-found strength is bad news for the other 15 teams in the South African top flight. The fact that Sundowns are stronger and R200-million richer from their World Cup quest means the odds of them being stopped from winning a ninth consecutive league title are even lower now.
Efficiency is key
As for what cost them a historic place in the round of 16 as they finished third in Group F (behind Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense), Sundowns’ skipper and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams told journalists: “The efficiency. The teams that we’ve played don’t need a lot of chances to hurt you.
“We saw Fluminense hitting the pole from half-chances. So, they wait for that moment to hurt you. On the other side, we had so many chances throughout the tournament and our conversion rate was not the best,” Williams said.
“But I’m proud of the boys. For the effort, fight and the ability to play our own football. People thought we were going to come here and be defensive. But no, we played our football… We’ve put Mamelodi Sundowns and South Africa on the map; people will take a keen interest in our football,” the shot-stopper stated.
Viva Brazil
Fluminense making it out of Group F alongside Dortmund continued the theme of Brazilian clubs impressing at this expanded World Cup, which has grown to from just seven teams to the 32 who travelled to the US for the 2025 edition.
Alongside Fluminense, the other three Brazilian clubs present at the World Cup have made it to the last 16. Palmeiras topped Group A — which featured Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, Al Ahly and two-time European champions Porto.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2222153208.jpg "Keno of Fluminense FC in possession while under pressure from Marcelo Allende of Mamelodi Sundowns. (Photo: Megan Briggs / Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2222144905.jpg "Samuel Xavier of Fluminense battles for possession with Divine Lunga of Mamelodi Sundowns in Florida. (Photo: Dan Mullan / Getty Images)")
Botafogo beat reigning champions of Europe Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 1-0 on the way to reaching the knockout phase, at the expense of Atletico Madrid (who finished third in the group). Flamengo flexed their muscles during a 3-1 drubbing of English Premier League side Chelsea — a victory that helped them finish atop Group D ahead of the Blues.
Palmeiras and Botafogo have been pitted against each other in the round of 16, which means at least one Brazilian club will make it to the quarterfinals.
Fluminense have set up a date with Inter Milan, while Flamengo will be eyeing an upset win of German giants Bayern Munich. Chelsea and Benfica will do battle in an all-European tie. Although the poor attendance of matches has been a key talking point during this rejigged World Cup, a sell-out crowd is expected when Messi battles his former team, PSG.
The round of 16 will be played from 28 June to 2 July — with the level of the soccer on display expected to increase due to the fact there will be no second or third chances. DM