This Group B encounter of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played between the 2024 Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo and former CONCACAF Champions Cup winner Seattle Sounders FC on June 16 at Lumen Field, Seattle.
Here’s our preview and prediction for the game.
In the first competitive meeting between an MLS team and a Brazilian side since 1998, both will fancy maximum points, as they must also face two European heavyweights in Atletico Madrid and recent UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in Group B of this newly-formatted 32-team competition.
One of four Brazilian teams competing in this year’s Club World Cup, Botafogo qualified as winners of the 2024 Copa Libertadores, beating compatriots Atletico Mineiro 3-1 in an eventful final.
Three-time national champions Botafogo also won the Brasileiro last year, although they’ve been slightly off the pace in 2025, having lost star men Luiz Henrique and Thiago Almada, as well as head coach Artur Jorge.
The Alvinegro have been busy reinforcing their squad for this tournament, bringing in goalkeeper Christian Loor, defender Kaio Fernando, midfielder Alvaro Montoro, plus forward pair Arthur Cabral and Joaquin Correa during FIFA’s special transfer window.
Seattle Sounders on the other hand are one of three Major League Soccer teams taking part in the newly expanded tournament, and as a host city they will stage all three of their group fixtures at Lumen Field.
While the Seattle Sounders have already appeared at FIFA’s top club competition –back in 2022 – when they lasted only one match, after they were eliminated by Egypt’s Al Ahly in the quarter-finals. CONCACAF Champions League winners that year, the Rave Green have not lifted silverware since, after narrowly missing out in last season’s Western Conference final.
In terms of personnel, Brian Schmetzer’s side will once again heavily rely on their creator-in-chief – Manchester City’s Albert Rusnak – who has been involved in 20 goals across his last 26 home appearances. The Slovakian forward is joined in the hosts’ squad by ex-Botafogo man Joao Paulo.
Sounders’ all-time top scorer Jordan Morris is a doubt due to suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring strain, so USA international Jesus Ferreira is set to start up front. Colombian defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade is also sidelined due to a hamstring injury while centre-back Kim Kee-hee may miss the opener with a calf problem.
Tasked with navigating such a testing group, the American club will have to lean heavily on home advantage: they have lost only one of their last 15 games at Lumen Field, and just five of the last 36 across all competitions.
However, based on how busy Botafogo have been in trying to strengthen their current squad compared to the injuries and indiscipline that has plagued the Seattle Sounders, we’re backing the Alvinegro to start their campaign with a narrow victory over hosts Seattle.
Fantasy XI: Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Vitinho, Alex Telles; Marlon Freitas, Gregore, Albert Rusnak, Jefferson Savarino (vc); Arthur, Igor Jesus (c), Jesus Ferreira
Score Prediction: Botafogo 1-0 Seattle Sounders FC
Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle
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