Preview

Jun

2025

Preview: USMNT take on Haiti aiming to make it three wins from three at Gold Cup

Mauricio Pochettino’s lads are through to the next round with two wins from their first two Group D games while Haiti are in desperate need of a win if they have any hope of progressing. The two face-off at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas on Sunday.

By Alex Roberts

The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss has the luxury of being able to rest some of his key players ahead of the latter stages where they will likely face tougher opposition than the one’s they’ve met in the group.

An impressive turn around

After four consecutive defeats ahead of the tournament, USMNT fans were worried this tournament would be a complete wash out for their side. They’ve very quickly blocked out the haters and look like a completely different set of players.

Two wins and six goals scored without conceding one is a genuinely impressive start to the campaign. Poch’s war of words with star man Christian Pulisic suddenly seems like a lifetime ago and the talking is being done on the pitch.

Malik Tilman in particular has impressed, scoring a brace in the 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago before being the main creative force in the 1-0 win over our favourite North/Central American nation, Saudi Arabia.

Experience is key

Martin Experience that is! The 26-year-old left-back is gonna have busy evening marking Tilman and likely having to keep an eye on Diego Luna at the same time. Thankfully, as his name implies, he knows what he’s doing.

He was a key member of this season’s Nancy side that earned promotion back to Ligue 2, playing 29 league games and providing three assists in the process. Yes, it’s not an elite European league but it remains a competitive one.

A speedy full-back who’s surprisingly good in the air, Experience has a 100% aerial duel win for Haiti so far in the Gold Cup. He also made three interceptions and seven blocks during his two games so far. He’ll doubtless be hoping his campaign doesn’t end here.

Where is Johnny Cardoso?

The Real Betis midfielder was a stand out for his club last season, so much so that the likes of Tottenham and Atlético Madrid have both heavily been linked with a move in the summer transfer window. So why has he only played two minutes in the Gold Cup?

Well, the most likely answer is, that Posh is limiting his minutes after a season that has seen him already play 46 games across all competitions, in which he lost a major European final against Chelsea.

At the same time, in the international games he has played, he’s hardly impressed. His 45 minutes in the 2-1 friendly defeat to Türkiye was arguably the worst of his season, failing to win a single tackle, and making the error that led to the equaliser.

As the tournament reaches its latter stages, he will likely get more chances to make amends. Don’t be surprised to see him get some minutes here so he can gain a little confidence.

Prediction

The USA are heavy favourites for this one but considering they will likely rotate a little, we think Haiti will get something even if they won’t qualify. We gonna call it as a 1-1 draw.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Gold Cup with FotMob this summer – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Man City meet Al Ain in Atlanta

Manchester City continue their adventure in the money-making machine that is the new Club World Cup and a second win in two games will be the expectation, even if the lineup is shuffled around as Pep Guardiola’s team face Al Ain.

By Karl Matchett

New chances for new faces

While some matches have the feel of pre-season, this competition still feels somehow more like the end of last term than the opening of the new one, perhaps as there wasn’t exactly much of a break between the two. Despite that, a hastily fashioned transfer window has been arranged and new deals have been concluded. Man City, of course, certainly needed a refresh. It started in January, but it’s the likes of Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri who have arrived more recently and who might make City seem like more of their old selves: more technical ability and creativity from the former, more speed and a proper left-sided outlet from the latter.

Final reminder of old faces

Depending on the leagues you usually watch, some of the Asian sides appearing in the US this summer might feel a bit nostalgic, given their squad lists. There aren’t quite as many former Premier League stars in this Al Ain side, but several who have experience around Europe. Rui Patrício in goal, formerly of Wolves, is the biggest name but Fábio Cardoso was briefly at Rangers and is owned by Porto, while centre-back Ramy Rabia had a spell with Sporting CP in his younger days.

Recent form

City beat Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in their Club World Cup opener, making it three wins in a row for them after they ended the Premier League campaign with victories over Fulham and Bournemouth. Prior to that, however, they lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace and were held to a goalless draw by the league’s worst team, Southampton. Al Ain ended their own campaign in the UAE with three wins and two draws in the last five, but opened their Club World Cup with a 5-0 thumping by Juventus.

Team news

Rico Lewis is suspended after his late red card against Wydad and Mateo Kovačić is injured for Man City. Jack Grealish was left out of the squad entirely for the competition. Ai Ain have no squad concerns and have a full list to choose from.

Key player

Given Omar Marmoush started up front in the last game, a return for Erling Haaland wouldn’t be a surprise and he could look to fill his boots given a very lean spell since his return from injury: just one goal in five games. Al Ain were shaky defensively against Juve and Haaland is elite – even after not quite as incredible a season, he is still higher ranked than 96% of strikers in Europe for goals and 97% for shots. Just get him chances again and he’ll plunder several – this could be a good starting point for that.

Prediction

The Premier League side should make fairly short work of this encounter and a repeat scoreline of Juve’s game wouldn’t be a huge surprise: Man City 5-0 Al Ain.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob this summer — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Real Madrid meet Pachuca in search for first win at Club World Cup

Xabi Alonso’s new look Madrid side will be looking to kickstart their campaign while Liga MX’s Pachuca need a result if they are to prolong their stay in the United States.

By Ian King

Form

Real Madrid endured a disappointing 2024/25 season by their own lofty standards, finishing as runners-up to Barcelona in LaLiga and losing the final of the Copa del Rey to the same opposition. They didn’t start this tournament particularly strongly either, with a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in their opening match. Pachuca ended up in eighth place in Liga MX’s Clausura campaign, earning them a place in the play-offs. They were, however, beaten 2-1 by RB Salzburg in their opening match in this tournament.

Intercontinental rivalry

There is a bit of history here. These two clubs met each other in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup match in Qatar at the end of last year, with Madrid winning 3-0. But this was the first and only competitive meeting between these two clubs.

Key Players

Aurélien Tchouaméni could be the key player for Real Madrid. With a lot of absentees, the midfielder put in a decent shift in their opening match and is likely to start again in the centre of the park. A lot of eyes will also be on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had a mixed debut for them in their opening match, playing 65 minutes before being withdrawn.

There’s a few familiar names in the Pachuca team for those watching in Europe. Salomón Rondón played there for West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle and Everton, as well as in Russia and Spain, and now has 118 international appearances for Venezuela. And former Chelsea, Newcastle United, and star of LaLiga Kenedy should join Rondón in the forward line.

Team News

The big question hanging over the Real Madrid team ahead of this match is whether Kylian Mbappé will be fit. Having dropped two points in their opening match, Real need a result from this one. Mbappé missed that match with illness. Gonzalo García deputised for him in that match, and will be expected to do so again should he still be absent.

Otherwise, Real have a lengthy injuries and illnesses list. Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Endrick and Antonio Rüdiger all have injuries or illnesses which keep them out of the team. Pachuca’s only absentee will be Andrés Micolta, who won’t be appearing in this tournament at all.

Prediction

Real Madrid were the first winners of the European Cup and the first winners of the Intercontinental Cup. They like to be early adopters, and winning this tournament may mean more to them than it does to other European entrants. Those two dropped points in their opening match mean that a win in this one will be pretty much essential if they’re to progress with confidence.

Pachuca didn’t embarrass themselves in their opening match against Salzburg, and defeat leaves them needing a result of some description from this match if they’re to proceed to the next stage of the competition.

Their form, however, hasn’t been great at home and there’s little to suggest that they’ll have enough about them to get past even a depleted Real Madrid team. It’s unlikely that this match will be as clear-cut as their previous meeting at the end of 2024, but Real Madrid’s Big Club Arrogance should be enough to get them through this. I’ll go 2-1 Madrid, and a little nervousness going into their final group match.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the Champions League Final with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Chelsea set for reunion with Flamengo coach Filipe Luis

Flamengo and Chelsea go head-to-head in the Club World Cup, with both sides searching for their second win in as many games in the competition.

By Matt Smith

Flamengo enjoyed a 2-0 victory against Espérance in the opening game, while Enzo Maresca’s side defeated Los Angeles FC by the same scoreline. The two sides previously met back in 1998 during an international friendly tournament, with Chelsea coming away with a 5-0 win.

Team news

Flamengo were without Nicolás de la Cruz for their opening game of the tournament, but he has been named in their squad for the competition, meaning there is a chance he could make his return.

Roméo Lavia and Reece James only completed 45 minutes each in Chelsea’s game against Los Angeles, so it will be interesting to see whether they are able to start once again. Liam Delap made his debut off the bench, setting up Enzo Fernández’s goal, so he’ll be pushing for a place in the starting XI.

Two possession-based styles go head-to-head

Maresca is known for his possession-based style at Chelsea, but Filipe Luís is looking to implement a similar system with Flamengo. In their opening game, the Brazilian side dominated proceedings with 69% of the possession.

Brazilian league leaders Flamengo play in the same way domestically, with no side in the league averaging more possession than them this season. It looks set to be an interesting battle between two similar styles on Friday night.

Chelsea searching for repeat of LA performance

Although Los Angeles showed some threat in transition against Chelsea, it was a dominant display from the Blues in their opening game of the competition. Maresca’s side created 2.24 expected goals, producing 17 shots with six of those being on target.

A win for the Blues would guarantee a place in the round of 16 if LAFC win or draw in their game against Espérance. Considering the squad Maresca has at his disposal, qualification for the next round will be a bare minimum target.

Liam Delap pushing for a start

Delap came off the bench in the game against LAFC, and he produced a performance that will have excited Chelsea fans ahead of the 2025/2026 season. The England youth international was a constant threat running in behind, while he was constantly battling with defenders and getting into the box.

Delap provided an assist for Enzo and created two chances, despite being on the pitch for just over 25 minutes. Nicolas Jackson, who Delap replaced in the second half, also created a goal, so it will be interesting to see how Maresca decides to line up in the second game. The Chelsea boss has even hinted that he could try fit the pair into the same starting XI.

Prediction

Chelsea should have too many quality in this one, but Flamengo will certainly be no pushovers. We’re going for a 2-1 victory to Maresca’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob this summer — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: USMNT face first serious Gold Cup test against Saudi Arabia

Group D favourites USA will face a similarly depleted Saudi Arabia side in a match where the winner can almost certainly seal progression to the knockouts.

By Neel Shelat

Pressure still on the USMNT

The USA endured their first four-match losing streak since 2007 in the lead up to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Having also suffered a surprise defeat in the CONCACAF Nations League to Panama in that run, pressure certainly was mounting on Mauricio Pochettino and his rather depleted squad going into the Gold Cup.

Their 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in their opening game might have helped ease nerves a little, but that result should count for little in the wider scheme of things. The challenge for the Argentine coach is not to thrash significantly weaker sides but to set his team up to consistently get results against opponents of a more similar stature. The upcoming match will be more meaningful in this respect, though it will not be entirely representative either.

Saudi Arabia also missing key players due to Club World Cup

While the USMNT are without their core group of players due to a myriad of reasons, Gold Cup invitees Saudi Arabia also have to make do without some stars for the tournament. Seven of their players were not available for selection due to domestic giants Al Hilal’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. The absentees include star forward Salem Al-Dawsari, scorer of the famous goal against Argentina at the last World Cup and the Green Falcons’ leading active goal-scorer, as well as key midfielder Mohamed Kanno.

Looking to make the most of the situation, head coach Hervé Renard handed out starts to four players aged 23 or younger in their tournament opener against Haiti. While Saudi Arabia came away with a win, their performance was far from convincing, so they will need to step things up if they are to really challenge the USMNT.

Saudi Arabia preparing for World Cup qualification challenge

While Saudi Arabia will have an eye on the Gold Cup title like all strong competitors, their biggest task of the year is to seal World Cup qualification. Six Asian teams booked their berths in the 2026 edition of the tournament earlier this month at the conclusion of the AFC’s third qualifying round, including Japan and Australia who finished ahead of the Green Falcons in their group. So, they will have to go again in the fourth round, which they will co-host along with Qatar.

Ticket sales remain slow

Between the volatile political situation in the United States, reports and fears of ICE agents operating around stadiums and an over-saturation of summer soccer action in the country, it should be no surprise that ticket sales for the Gold Cup have not gone well in the States. At the time of writing, at least half of the seats for this match are unsold.

Prediction

The USMNT should be considered clear favourites for this match after Saudi Arabia’s performance against Haiti, so they should aim to win by a multi-goal margin.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Gold Cup with FotMob this summer – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Inter Miami set for clash against Portuguese giants Porto

The second round of matches at the Club World Cup begin on Thursday, when host nation representatives Inter Miami will face a tough test against FC Porto.

By James Nalton

Lionel Messi’s side were held to a scoreless draw in the opener against Al-Ahly, kicking the tournament off with a 0-0, but what at times was a fairly entertaining one.

60,927 turned out at the Hard Rock Stadium, with Al Ahly fans providing plenty of atmosphere along with some of the Miami supporters’ groups, setting the tone for what this tournament might have in store.

It eased some concerns about whether fans will show up and whether there will be an atmosphere around the tournament.

Now, Inter Miami and Porto have the task of filling the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Miami need a shock result to progress

Inter Miami and their coach, Javier Mascherano, might have felt they needed a win from that opener against Al Ahly.

Three points early on against the team they would have been most fancied to get something from would have put less pressure on these potentially trickier games against European and South American opposition.

As it was, Al Ahly had the better chances to score, and the giants of Egyptian and African football were unlucky not to come away with a win. To illustrate that, Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was the game’s best player.

Trezeguet saw a penalty saved by Ustari on his return to his boyhood club, sparing Inter Miami the embarrassment of losing the opener in their latest adopted home stadium in Miami Gardens.

The Floridians now travel to Atlanta to face Porto, where another draw would keep them in the mix, but a defeat might be the beginning of the end.

Playing away from home against the group favourites is a chance to show what they are made of.

There’s always a chance

With Messi around…

Messi showed enough against Al Ahly to suggest he can make his mark on this tournament.

An audacious effort from outside the area following a corner routine almost caught Mohamed El Shenawi off guard, but the experienced goalkeeper scrambled back to tip the shot onto the bar.

Messi was heavily involved, finishing the game with 76 touches, and also created a couple of good chances for teammates.

His cross late on gave Fafà Picault a chance that could have won the game, but El Shenawi saved the header from close range.

Sergio Busquets, at 36 years old, still enjoys this type of summer football tournament, taking the heat out of things with simple, efficient passing that can create chances further down the line.

Inter Miami will be the underdogs against a UEFA Champions League and Europa League regular, but they still have the players to win these games against the odds.

Porto pressure

Porto will also have been disappointed not to begin their campaign with a win, as the other match in Group A also finished goalless.

In that game, the Brazilian side, Palmeiras, who won the Copa Libertadores in 2021, showed they will be tough to beat, and like Al Ahly did versus Miami, will have felt they should have snatched a win against Porto.

That Porto’s goalkeeper Claudio Ramos received the highest FotMob rating in that game tells a story similar to Ustari’s in the other game.

It leaves Porto still looking for their first win, which could be bad news for Inter Miami.

Striker Samuel Aghehowa was kept quiet by Palmeiras, but the 21-year-old Spaniard, who was Porto’s top scorer last season, will fancy his chances against the MLS team’s shaky defence.

18-year-old attacking midfielder Rodrigo Mora is another one to look out for in the Porto ranks, while winger Pepê will be hoping to start and make an impact, having begun on the bench versus Palmeiras.

*Porto’s top scorers in the Liga Portugal last season*

Prediction

Porto should be able to do what Al Ahly couldn’t and finish their chances against Inter Miami, and after the 0-0 draws in the opening games, this one could see a few goals.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Club World Cup with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Man City get underway against Wydad at the Club World Cup

Manchester City and Wydad Casablanca will go head-to-head in their opening game of the Club World Cup in Group G.

By Matt Smith

Pep Guardiola’s side will be hoping to defend their title, but they face a tougher test this year, with the competition now under a new format.

Man City naturally qualify after lifting the 2023 edition, and they face a Morocco-based side who have won 22 league titles. Wydad qualified through their CAF Champions League triumph during the 2021/2022 campaign.

Team news

City fans will be excited by the prospect of seeing some of their new additions, with Rayan Cherki, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Tijjani Reijnders all named in their Club World Cup squad after signing earlier in the summer window. Mateo Kovačić and Jack Grealish are among those who failed to make the squad, with the former nursing a heel injury.

Wydad are also welcoming a new signing, and one who some Premier League followers may remember. Former Watford winger Nordin Amrabat, the brother of Sofyan Amrabat, recently signed for the Moroccan side.

Man City ended the season strongly

Despite a disappointing season overall, City are going into the tournament on a strong run of form. Guardiola’s side have lost just once since the beginning of March, albeit suffering a defeat in a crucial FA Cup final game against Crystal Palace in May.

*Goals conceded per game, Champions League 2024/25*

Defensively is where City struggled in the 2024/2025 campaign, particularly in the Champions League. The Citizens conceded a whopping two goals per game on average in Europe’s elite club competition, ranking them 26th this season.

Wydad going through a tricky period

Wydad are representing their country at the competition but they were far from the best side in Morocco this season. Finishing third, Wydad were 16 points behind league leaders RS Berkane, despite having a strong end to the campaign themselves.

Amine Benhachem’s side drew 12 league games out of 30 during the season, despite Mohamed Rayhi, who could be a player to watch, scoring 11 goals in 17 starts.

Cherki the superstar waiting to explode

Cherki’s career has been an interesting one so far, bursting onto the scene as one of the most exciting youngsters in world football. His progress has been up and down since arriving in senior football, but he’s starting to show why he was so hyped as a young talent.

Cherki stood out in a Lyon side who just broke into the Europa League places, providing a goalscoring and creative threat which City will need. Phil Foden’s form has dropped off while Kevin De Bruyne was allowed to leave the club to join Napoli, and now could be the chance for Cherki to announce himself to the world.

*Cherki’s possession stats in Ligue 1 this season*

Prediction

Man City will understandably be the heavy favourites heading into this game, and although Guardiola might be tempted to rest some players for the tougher games ahead, there is a heavy financial incentive on offer for winning each match.

We’re going for a comfortable 5-0 victory for Guardiola’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob this summer — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Real Madrid begin Club World Cup campaign against Al Hilal

There’s coaching debuts in both dugouts as these clubs meet for a rematch of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final.

By Filip Mishov

Different coaches, similar tactical ideas

A new era begins as Xabi Alonso and Simone Inzaghi are set to take charge of Real Madrid and Al Hilal, respectively, for the first time at the inaugural extended edition of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

With both coaches favouring a back-three system and nurturing a similar football philosophy, changes are inevitable within either squad. Furthermore, both clubs have been busy in the transfer market ahead of the tournament, with Los Blancos being successful and bringing in Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Franco Mastantuono (albeit, he will join in August), while the Saudi Pro League runners-up’s efforts to lure Theo Hernández, Bruno Fernandes and Victor Osimhen, among others, have been rebuffed for now.

The opening match of Group H in Miami will be a repeat of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final, when the then-European champions cruised past Al Hilal the Moroccan capital of Rabat, with Federico Valverde and Vinícius Júnior scoring braces in a eight goal thriller, leading Real Madrid to their fifth title in the competition.

Quite a few players that starred in that contest remain at their clubs with the captains, Luka Modrić and Salem Al-Dawsari spearheading the list.

Key Players

The Club World Cup will be ‘The Last Dance’ for at least a couple of players in Los Blancos’ dressing room, lLucas Vázquez for one, but more notably for their aforementioned captain – Luka Modrić, who will leave as the most decorated player in Real Madrid’s history. With that being said, this will be the Croat’s final opportunity to lift additional silverware and help his former teammate, Xabi Alonso, to get off to a victorious start back at the club where he once played.

On the other side, Aleksandar Mitrović is set to be the main protagonist for Al Hilal after the Saudi club failed to sign a new star striker in the build up to the tournament and the Serbian goalscorer will be integral to Simone Inzaghi’-led squad’s plans. The prolific ‘Mitrogol’ is averaging 34 goals a season across all competitions since moving to Saudi Arabia back in 2023.

*Mitrović’s shot map from the Saudi Pro League, 2024/25*

Team news

With Alonso and Inzaghi destined to implement 3-4-3 and / or 3-5-2 formations or a rumoured 4-2-3-1, respectively, a lot will hinge on the availability of their key defenders. Thankfully for the Spaniard, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal are all closing in on a return from injury, while the Italian has a full squad to pick from. Also, new signings Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold are expected to be heavily involved right off the start, while it will be interesting to see how Alonso will use Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappé.

*Possible XI made with the FotMob lineup builder exclusive to fotmob.com*

Prediction

Real Madrid and Al Hilal are expected to battle it out for top spot in Group H, with all due respect to Pachuca and Salzburg, and amid many unknowns at the beginning of their respective new eras, I expect a winning debut for Xabi Alonso and an exciting match with more than a few goals.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob this summer – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Chelsea face LAFC in opening Club World Cup game

Premier League giants Chelsea start their campaign in the fancy new-look FIFA Club World Cup against MLS side LAFC on Monday, hoping to reaffirm their qualification for next season’s Champions League with a good run against some of the globe’s best sides.

By Alex Roberts

Enzo Maresca’s side won’t want to underestimate the Americans, however. Well-funded and well-rounded, LAFC are one of the better sides in the MLS’ Western Conference and fully deserving to be one of the league’s three representatives.

How did they get here?

Pundit Jamie Carragher may not like it, but Chelsea will be in the Club World Cup by virtue of their Champions League win back in 2021, which is just inside the qualifying period. They also won the old version of this tournament with a 2-1 extra-time win over Brazilian side Palmeiras later that year.

LAFC’s induction was a little less orthodox. Mexican side Club León were expelled due to FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules. Both León and Pachuca, another Mexican club, are owned by the same entity, Grupo Pachuca.

A one-off playoff against Club América ensued, and after their 2-1 comeback win, LAFC will now be putting their domestic season on hold in order to compete with some of the best clubs from Europe and the rest of the world.

A reunion with the most handsome man in football

Chelsea fans will get the opportunity to see cult hero Olivier Giroud once again when these two sides face off. He’s not the player that scored in the 4-1 Europa League final win over Arsenal, but he will be welcomed with open arms.

Now 38, Giroud has struggled since moving to LA from AC Milan as a designated player back in the summer of 2024, scoring just five goals in his 34 games across all competitions for the club.

Funnily enough, two of those goals have come in his last three games and with his penchant for the spectacular and an ability to score a goal from nothing, Chelsea will have to keep an eye of their former forward. He’s not just a pretty face.

A few potential Chelsea debuts

Maresca’s side missed out on deals for Jamie Gittens and Mike Maignan after failing to agree terms with Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, respectively. That doesn’t mean there won’t be some debuts, however.

New arrivals Liam Delap, Dário Essugo and Mamadou Sarr will all be the squad, along with loan star Andrey Santos. All four of these lads will be hoping to make an impression on Maresca ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Delap is arguably the most exciting of those players. Taking the cursed number nine shirt, the combative forward has drawn comparisons to Diego Costa. If the former Man City academy graduate as a similar kind of impact, the fans will love him.

*Delap’s shot map for his 12 Premier League goals with Ipswich this season*

Denis Bouanga is a problem

Playing anywhere along the forward line but with a penchant for cutting in from the left and shooting, Bouanga is one of the best and most consistent goal scorers in MLS history, he’s going to be a real problem for Chelsea. Eighty-one goals in his 128 games across all competitions for the club speaks for itself.

He was the main man in the win over Club América, dragging LAFC to the Club World Cup with an assist for Igor Jesus’ 89^th minute equaliser and then bagging in the 115^th minute to round off the scoring.

Over his last ten games across all competitions, Bouanga has made 14 goal contributions, there are few players on the planet as in-form as him at this moment in time. He’s never come up against Reece James, though.

Prediction

Chelsea have just ended their season, while LAFC are in the middle of theirs. Don’t expect the Premier League side to be in top gear for this one, all of the European clubs will likely be taking it easy until the back end of the tournament. We’re going to go with a 2-1 win for Chelsea.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob this summer – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: USMNT start Gold Cup campaign against Trinidad & Tobago

Mauricio Pochettino’s US men’s national team is under pressure to improve at the 2025 Gold Cup ahead of next year’s World Cup on home soil.

By Graham Ruthven

Under pressure

The US men’s national team aren’t where they want to be right now. With the 2026 World Cup on home soil now less than a year away, Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in bad shape. Supporters are starting to panic.

Last week’s friendly defeats to Türkiye and Switzerland only added to the concern, extending the USA’s losing run to four games. The 4-0 loss to Switzerland was particularly damaging as the USA looked grossly out of their depth.

It is important to note that this current USA squad isn’t the one that will play at the World Cup. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and others are all missing, meaning Pochettino is relying on youngsters and fringe players.

Nonetheless, it’s impossible to ignore the negativity around the USMNT right now. Pochettino needs a good showing at the Gold Cup to turn things around.

Trinidad and Tobago, on the other hand, enter Sunday’s match on the back of a credible 2-1 loss to Costa Rica and a 6-2 demolition of Saint Kitts and Nevis in World Cup qualifying. They are buoyant.

Key players

Diego Luna is the beating heart of Pochettino’s USA. The Real Salt Lake playmaker is one of the few players who looks to have embraced the manager’s ideas, giving the US some much-needed intensity and creativity in the final third.

Patrick Agyemang is another who has earned Pochettino’s trust. The Charlotte FC centre forward is raw and isn’t always the most precise in front of goal, but has the physical attributes to cause opposition defences problems in quick transition.

Tyler Adams will start at the base of the midfield if fit and available while Luca De La Torre could come back into the lineup. The San Diego midfielder was missed in the loss to Switzerland.

*Tyler Adams’ player traits, compared against other midfielders in top 5 European leagues*

At the back, Chris Richards is the dominant defensive presence in the US backline. It will be on the FA Cup-winning centre back to organise and lead the USA in defence.

Levi García found the back of the net for the Soca Warriors against Costa Rica and could similarly be a threat against the USA. Coach Dwight Yorke will also need the experience of Alvin Jones and Kevin Molino to secure a result.

Team news

Adams missed the friendly against Switzerland with a minor injury after playing the second half of the narrow defeat to Türkiye. The Bournemouth midfielder is crucial to the USA who need him in central midfield.

Pochettino faces a decision over his starting goalkeeper. Matt Turner’s rustiness was on display in the 4-0 defeat to the Swiss as he made a blunder which led to the third goal. New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese could be given an opportunity from the start on Sunday.

Josiah Trimmingham suffered a knee injury in the friendly against Costa Rica and won’t feature against the USA. Jones is eligible to play despite being shown a red card in Trinidad & Tobago’s last outing.

Prediction

Despite all the absences and the media talk, we believe the US will have enough to get past Dwight Yorke’s underdogs in this opening contest: USA 2-0 Trinidad & Tobago.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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