On Sunday 14th June 2025, the newest edition of the FIFA Club World Cup will get under way.
The expanded version of the competition invites 32 teams from all over the world to compete for a newly designed trophy, with the final set to be staged in New Jersey.
Two of those 32 teams are from Mexico. Earning their places in the Club World Cup, Monterrey became the first side to qualify by lifting the 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup title, three years before Pachuca went on to do the same, when they beat the Columbus Crew 3-0 to become continental champions for a sixth time.
Now, they will be testing themselves against some of the biggest names in the world to represent Mexican football.
Until April, a third Liga MX team was expected to take part in the competition. However, Club León were dealt a blow when they were disqualified due to concerns over their shared ownership structure with Pachuca, a situation that also left Pachuca fearing they could face the same outcome.
To determine who would join Chelsea, Flamengo, and Espérance de Tunis in Group D, FIFA organised a playoff match between LAFC and Club América. The California side came out on top, securing the spot with a win in extra time.
So who are our two Liga MX sides taking part in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup?
Monterrey
Los Rayados have been building towards the inaugural expanision of the tournament since the turn of the year, bringing in a four-time UEFA Champions League winner, FIFA World Cup champion and a man who has lifted this very trophy four times, all by the name of Sergio Ramos. As one of the greatest central defenders of his generation, the 38-year-old is starting to wind down his career, but saw the project at Monterrey as one that he was ready for.
Beyond the former Real Madrid and Spanish national team captain, Los Rayados recently announced a new head coach in Domènec Torrent. Previously managing Atlético de San Luis, Torrent replaces the former Bayern Munich and Manchester City defender Martín Demichelis. After a mixed campaign with Atléti, his consecutive semi-final runs to the Apertura was enough to win the right people over at the club.
Drawn into Group E, Monterrey will start their journey with a difficult challenge against an Inter Milan side coming off the back of heartbreak in the Champions League final against Paris Saint Germain. Next, they will face Argentine giants River Plate before a Urawa Red Diamonds side of Japan in the final game of the group.
The recent schedules of the four sides has handed Monterrey the perfect opportunity to make a major impact. Having not kicked a ball in almost a month, since their Clausura elimination to eventual winners Toluca, they've been able to put in the hard yards on the training pitch, whilst their rivals have had other matters to address
Inter Milan only finished their campaign last week, with many of their players now jetting around the world to represent their countries before rejoining their squads for the Club World Cup later this week. The same can be said for Urawa Red Diamonds, who took a pause from their league campaign last week, following a 2-1 win over Yokohama FC. As for River Plate, the Buenos Aires side have enjoyed a midseason break, but are very much so in the middle of both their domestic and continental campaign.
Pachuca
Los Tuzos went all the way to the final of the Intercontinental Cup in December, where they fell short to Real Madrid. This time around, they have called on some familiar faces to Liga MX fans to give themselves the best chance possible.
The club started the summer by signing Necaxa's Agustín Palavecino and newly crowned Liga MX champion, Federico Pereira of Toluca. The pair have signed a one month deal to bolster the club's spine, accompanying the likes of Elias Montiel, a 19-year-old central midfielder who has caught the eye of many potential suitors in Europe, and the veteran journeyman Salómon Rondón, who at the age of 35 managed to come up with 26 goals across the Apertura and Clausura for the Hidalgo side.
Like Monterrey, Pachuca have had a change of manager in the build up to the competition, but in rather different circumstances. Whilst Demichelis was relieved of his duties, Guillermo Almada handed in his resignation a month out from the start of the tournament, ending a three year tenure.
Replacing the man who guided Pachuca to their latest continental title is the former Mexican national team head coach, Jaime Lozano. Leaving El Trí after a disappointing Copa América last year, Lozano took Mexico to the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup title, where a Santiago Giménez winner saw off Panama in extra time.
His first task will be to get the club fighting in what is a difficult group. Starting against Austrian side RB Salzburg, their second group stage match is a meeting with a familiar opposition, Real Madrid, before a final game of the group against Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal.
As one of the more balanced groups in the competition, Pachuca will fancy their chances of getting out of the group, but much of their success depends on that opening game against a Salzburg fell short of the title to Sturm Graz.
Fixtures
All you need to know for our two teams:
Tuesday 17th June 2025
Monterrey vs Inter Milan: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena
Saturday 21st June 2025
Monterrey vs River Plate: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena
Wednesday 25th June 2025
Monterrey vs Urawa Red Diamonds: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena
Wednesday 17th June 2025
Pachuca vs RB Salzburg: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Sunday 22nd June 2025
Pachuca vs Real Madrid: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Thursday 26th June 2025
Pachuca vs Al Hila: Geodis Park, Nashville
Who do you think will perform the best at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup? Let us know!
Read More: