FIFA Club World Cup Group B Preview

As we inch ever so close to the inaugural edition of the new FIFA Club World Cup, our deep dive of previews continue as we look at each group of the tournament and look at how the teams in that particular group stack up against each other, before determining which two teams will go through to the knockout stages of the tournament.

In this piece, we will take a closer look at Group B and see how each team are looking ahead of the tournament kicking off.

FIFA Club World Cup Group B

Teams: Atlético de Madrid (ESP, UEFA), Botafogo (Brazil, CONMEBOL), Seattle Sounders (USA, CONCACAF), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA, UEFA)

How did each team qualify for the tournament?

Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain qualified for this tournament as two of the highest-ranked teams in the UEFA Confederation from the time of 2021-2024 based on their performances in the highest continental competition in the confederation.

Seattle Sounders qualified by winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the highest competition in the confederation in 2022.

Botafogo qualified by virtue of winning CONMEBOL’s highest competition, the Copa Libertadores in 2024.

How does each team stack up?

PSG enter this tournament with quality, class, and huge momentum on the back of their stunning Champions League triumph a few days ago. With a nucleus of young talent like Désiré Doué, João Neves, Vitinha, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, along with established veterans like Marquinhos and Ousmane Dembélé, the Parisians look well-stocked to add another trophy to their cabinet this season.

Any team facing Atlético Madrid will be well-aware of their suffocating defense, but they are much more than just a hardcore defensive side. With elite attacking options like Julián Alvarez, Alexander Sørloth, and Antoine Griezmann at their disposal, count the Los Rojiblancos at your own peril.

Botafogo will be led by former Manchester United and Al-Nassr defender Alex Telles and former Napoli midfielder Allan in their ranks, but they also have a couple of young and exciting players coming through. Forward Igor Jesus, and defenders Jair Cunha and Cuiabano are expected to shine in this tournament.

As far as Seattle Sounders are concerned, they enter this tournament fairly distracted given their vociferous protest against the way this tournament is being held, but they will hope to carry their MLS form with them in the tournament as they are one of the American representatives in this tournament.

Who makes it out of Group B

It seems very clear as to who the two qualifiers from this particular group will be. PSG and Atlético have way too much quality, and depth, and the big-tournament expertise to match the format of this competition. With all due respect to Botafogo and Seattle, the above opponents are just a notch too big for them to stand a chance, with all due respect to both teams and the leagues where they play in.

Our prediction is that Paris St-Germain and Atlético Madrid will qualify from Group B as winners and runners-up respectively.