Pachuca Kick Off Club World Cup Against Underdog Salzburg in Group H

Pachuca open their 2025 Club World Cup campaign on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (ET) with a Group H matchup against Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. According to ESPN Mexico, the Mexican side aims to make a strong start, while Salzburg step in as European outsiders with little to lose.

The Tuzos arrive as 2024 Concacaf Champions League winners but face questions over their domestic form. In Liga MX, they finished eighth and managed just one win in their last five games. Still, their international pedigree—this being their fifth Club World Cup appearance—positions them as group contenders.

Salzburg, meanwhile, earned their spot through UEFA coefficient rankings, benefiting from the two-club-per-country limit. While they lack big-name stars, they bring promise and youthful energy. Head coach Thomas Letsch, reappointed mid-season, shifted their formation to a 4-4-2 and relies heavily on 19-year-old Israeli playmaker Oscar Gloukh, valued at $21 million by Transfermarkt.

The Austrians suffered seven defeats in their last eight Champions League games but consistently found the net. Argentine midfielder Nicolás Capaldo also adds South American grit to their lineup.