Club World Cup updates, odds: Boca, Benfica serve up classic

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is disconnected and running, with 4 beardown days of amusive and play already successful the books. So let's get you caught up with what you missed and what's up contiguous and tomorrow.

Check successful with ESPN arsenic we bring you the latest quality and analysis, each the mode up to the tournament final astatine MetLife Stadium connected July 13.

The lead: Boca, Benfica present CWC's archetypal classic

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida -- The property container astatine Hard Rock Stadium trembled arsenic Boca Juniors fans celebrated the opening whistle of the team's inaugural Club World Cup lucifer against Benfica. Argentine supporters traveled successful their thousands to instrumentality implicit the 200 and 300-level sections down 1 of the goals, hanging yellow-and-blue flags and banners connected the railings to make a makeshift La Bombonera much than 4,4000 miles distant successful Miami Gardens. It was nary astonishment aft Boca Juniors supporters organized a monolithic gathering the time anterior to the lucifer to observe the opening of the tournament, bringing instruments, flags, banners and an immense passionateness to Miami Beach. A oversea of bluish and yellowish dominated arsenic acold arsenic the oculus could spot portion "Boca, Boca, Boca" resonated throughout. Families, from months-old babies to large grandparents, boasted the jerseys.

The Boca Juniors instrumentality basal wholly took implicit the metropolis and stadium, making the Argentine squad locals distant from home. And arsenic the lucifer progressed, the vigor wrong Hard Rock intensified and proved an integral portion of Boca Juniors' occurrence connected the pitch.

Boca began Miguel Angel Russo's 3rd word arsenic caput manager of the squad with the opening extremity against Benfica successful the 21st minute. Miguel Merentiel shocked the Portuguese squad to sneak a extremity past goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Fans erupted successful cheers, throwing drinks successful the air, hugging the nearest neighbour earlier singing "Dale Bo, Dale Bo" successful cleanable unison. Benfica players seemed flustered connected the field, overwhelmed by the strength of the Argentines some connected and disconnected the pitch.

Boca Juniors fans and players jumped astatine immoderate divided telephone from the referee Cesar Ramos, leaving Benfica susceptible to the pressure. Once Rodrigo Battaglia doubled the lead, the South Americans appeared unstoppable. But the feeling of power, superiority and strength backfired, starring to a punishment scored by Angel Di Maria for a foul wrong the box.

Tension continued to rise, yet starring to a reddish paper for Boca Juniors' Ander Herrera connected the seat and Benfica subordinate Andrea Belotti to permission the Portuguese broadside down to 10 men connected the field.

And it lone got worse for Boca Juniors successful the 2nd half, erstwhile Nicolas Otamendi, loyal instrumentality of their eternal rivals River Plate, scored the equalizer for Benfica. When the announcer presented Otamendi astatine the opening of the game, his sanction was drowned retired by boos from Boca fans. This time, fans simply stood successful soundlessness and disorder astatine what conscionable happened successful beforehand of their goal.

By the 87th minute, hostility connected the transportation took an elevated signifier and a third, and final, reddish paper was fixed to Boca Juniors' Jorge Figal to equalize the playing tract to 10 each.

The 2-2 gully seemed similar an due ending to a tension-fueled lucifer that saw play connected and disconnected the field. And It's lone the opening of the Club World Cup for these 2 teams. -- Lizzy Becherano

Today's apical Club World Cup news

• Maresca told Palmer to instrumentality 'initiative' for Chelsea
• Man City's Reijnders: Trophy unit begins astatine Club World Cup
• Club World Cup players disquieted by blistery temps: 'Impossible'

Sights and sounds astir FIFA Club World Cup

Sparse assemblage for Chelsea-LAFC doesn't bode well

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Chelsea's 2-0 triumph implicit LAFC successful Atlanta was FIFA's archetypal important embarrassment of the tourney to date. Despite spending a reported $50 cardinal connected selling and insisting fans would beryllium enthralled by the recently expanded tournament, Mercedes-Benz Stadium was a hollow ammunition connected Monday.

There is mitigation, of course, fixed a weekday day scheduling and a U.S.-based squad playing much than 2,000 miles from their location having conscionable qualified for this lawsuit a mates of weeks ago, but the show of a fantastic 71,000-capacity stadium similar this little than a 3rd afloat -- 22,137 was the fixed attendance -- was a acold outcry from the enthusiasm FIFA had promised. Ticket prices had been slashed, with wide admittance disposable connected the time for $51, but determination was small precocious take-up successful a metropolis whose team, Atlanta United, person by immoderate region the champion mean attendance per crippled (nearly 47,000 successful 2024) of immoderate MLS side.

The metropolis itself is not precisely awash with marketing, either. One barroom adjacent to the stadium is the self-appointed "Club World Cup Headquarters," but it did not amusement Sunday's crippled involving Bayern Munich and closed minutes aft Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders got underway. FIFA was speedy to beforehand the precocious attendance astatine the Rose Bowl erstwhile Paris Saint-Germain bushed Atlético Madrid and for the opening crippled successful Miami, but they would bash good to admit and code the failings present fixed determination is palpable inactive enactment to do. -- James Olley

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Olley: Low attendance for Chelsea vs. LAFC made it consciousness similar preseason

James Olley reacts to Chelsea's 2-0 triumph implicit LAFC astatine the Club World Cup.

A archetypal look astatine Lijnders arsenic a Manchester City coach

BOCA RATON, Florida -- Lots of Man City fans (and Liverpool, for that matter) are waiting to spot however Pep Guardiola works with caller adjunct manager Pep Lijnders, who was specified a important portion of Jurgen Klopp's backroom squad astatine Anfield. It's an absorbing national fixed however fierce the rivalry was betwixt Guardiola's City and Klopp's Liverpool betwixt 2018 and 2024.

At grooming astatine Lynn University implicit the week, it was Lijnders taking centre stage. Guardiola strolled astir successful the mediate of the drills, portion Lijnders barked astatine the antithetic groups to determination the shot much quickly. He could helium heard shouting "speed" again and again -- erstwhile helium saw thing helium liked, he'd accidental "that's the close tempo."

Guardiola's City person occasionally been accused of being excessively dilatory with the ball, peculiarly astir the absorption punishment area, but it looks similar that mightiness beryllium astir to change. A squad containing the champion bits from Guardiola and Klopp is surely a frightening prospect. -- Rob Dawson

Players already feeling the vigor (literally)

PASADENA, Calif. -- Just ideate a vigor truthful intense, it makes your toenails hurt. And if you're reasoning "well, that sounds unlikely..." good you didn't play 90 minutes against the world's champion nine team, Paris Saint-Germain, successful the midday prima astatine the Rose Bowl connected Sunday, did you?

Marcos Llorente's ailment astir conditions successful Pasadena during the 4-0 nonaccomplishment whitethorn person been unexpectedly circumstantial -- "it's impossible, a unspeakable heat. My toenails were hurting. I couldn't halt [running], oregon start," helium told reporters successful the mixed portion -- but the Atlético right-back is acold from alone. Even PSG manager Luis Enrique, who was different delighted with his team's comfy win, said the crippled was "clearly impacted" by the heat. "It's each precise good to prime the kickoff times truthful that [games] are watched successful Europe," helium jibed, "but the teams consciousness the effects of it."

As for Atlético, it wasn't their past midday quality astatine the Rose Bowl. They'll beryllium backmost successful Pasadena connected June 23 for different lunchtime kickoff against Botafogo, successful what's present a apt must-win crippled if they privation to marque the knockout stage.

Over successful Florida, wherever Real Madrid person been grooming successful Palm Beach Gardens, it's arsenic overmuch a question of humidity arsenic heat. Madrid volition marque their tourney debut against Al Hilal astatine Hard Rock Stadium, with 60% humidity forecast and temperatures of 91 degrees Fahrenheit. "It's precise hot," Vinícius Júnior said connected Sunday. "The crippled is astatine 3pm. It's going to beryllium tough."

Just ticker retired for those toenails. -- Alex Kirkland

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Is the vigor affecting players astatine the Club World Cup?

Steve Nicol explains the interaction of precocious temperatures connected players and managers astatine the Club World Cup.

Star subordinate of the day

Pedro Neto looking crisp for Chelsea

Neto nary uncertainty was the standout subordinate for Enzo Marseca's broadside arsenic Chelsea kicked disconnected their Club World Cup run with a 2-0 triumph implicit LAFC connected Monday.

Coming successful blistery aft winning the UEFA Nations League with Portugal past week, the 25-year-old was capable to people the Blues' archetypal extremity by getting the shot from Nicolas Jackson connected the flank, earlier sending defender Ryan Hollingshead to the level with his crook and slotting his changeable into the bottommost corner.

If Chelsea looks to triumph this rubric successful the United States, they volition request to trust connected the extent of their team, particularly successful the onslaught -- present with the summation of caller signing Liam Delap -- and players similar Neto volition beryllium perfectly vital. -- Roberto Rojas

Match previews, likelihood for Tuesday

Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund (Philadelphia, Noon ET)

Odds (via ESPN BET): Fluminense (+450), Draw (+340), Dortmund (-190)

Like it oregon loathe it, the Club World Cup is afloat of intriguing games and Borussia Dortmund against Fluminense astatine MetLife Stadium is 1 of them. Fluminense were beaten Club World Cup finalists successful 2023, portion Dortmund reached the Champions League last arsenic precocious arsenic 2024. One of the astir absorbing aspects of this tournaments is the quality to comparison levels of teams and leagues and this pits Brazil against Germany. Dortmund are favourites aft ending their home play strongly, but Fluminense -- successful the mediate of the home run -- volition fancy their chances. -- Dawson

River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds (Seattle, 3 p.m. ET)

Odds: River Plate (-180), Draw (+310), Urawa RD (+450)

We'll beryllium saying this a batch during this competition, but yes: this is the archetypal clip these 2 teams person ever met, and I indispensable accidental that's a amusive happening successful a contention similar this to person specified wildly diverging sides and shot cultures colliding. The likelihood are tilted rather acold successful River Plate's favour heading into their Group E opener, the Argentine broadside boasting respective acquainted faces -- including erstwhile MLS prima Sebastian Driussi and midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who is joining Real Madrid pursuing his 18th day successful August -- and each the momentum. They're inactive live successful the Copa Libertadores, South America's apical continental nine competition, and finished 2nd successful the league's Apertura, with 10 wins from 16 matches.

Their opponents, meanwhile, are ranked betwixt Raja Casablanca and English minnows Plymouth Argyle successful the Opta rankings (298th), a decent approximation of squad spot successful the satellite game. Much of Urawa's hopes volition autumn connected midfielder Ryoma Watanabe, who leads the squad with six goals successful the J.League truthful acold this season, and erstwhile Brazil U20 prima Matheus Savio, who has a team-high 4 assists. -- James Tyler

Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns (Orlando, 6 p.m. ET)

Odds: Ulsan HD (+200), Draw (+220), Sundowns (+140)

You tin bash a deeper dive connected Mamelodi Sundowns and what they anticipation to get retired of this Club World Cup here, but successful the interim they are looking to bounce backmost from the disappointment of losing the African Champions League. Given the dynamics of the group, connected insubstantial this is simply a must-win for some sides, truthful look retired for Sundowns' reliable striker Iqraam Rayners. Sundowns are nicknamed "the Brazilians" -- partially for the shot they effort to play, partially for their agleam Selecao-inspired jerseys -- and they person a mates Brazilans that basal retired too, similar Lucas Ribeiro, who wears the No. 10 (as you'd expect).

Ulsan person been among the top-rated squad successful Asia for a portion present and won the AFC Champions League successful 2020. In summation to a beardown halfway of nationalist squad players, they boast immoderate imports to watch, supra each seasoned striker Erick Farias and midfield stalwart (and erstwhile Sweden international) Darijan Bojanic. -- Gab Marcotti

Monterrey vs. Inter Milan (Pasadena, 9 p.m. ET)

Odds: Monterrey (+550), Draw (+360), Inter (-220)

Monterrey enters the Club World Cup with a caller caput manager and an immense acceptable of expectations arsenic 1 of conscionable 2 Liga MX representatives successful the tournament. Following a disappointing Clausura campaign, finishing seventh earlier falling to Toluca successful the quarterfinals of the playoffs, formert New York City FC, Flamengo and Galatasaray brag Domenec Torrent took the helm arsenic caput coach. Fans present expect the Spaniard to pb Monterrey to glory astatine the Club World Cup contempt the hard opponents of Group E.

Internazionale, connected the different hand, debuts successful the Club World Cup aft coming 2nd successful the 2024-25 Serie A season. There's a caller look successful the Inter dugout too, with Cristian Chivu taking the spot of Simone Inzaghi, who near the relation pursuing the Italian side's Champions League last nonaccomplishment to Paris Saint-Germain. -- Becherano