Sundowns Stun the World: Group F Leaders After Historic Club World Cup Win

Mamelodi Sundowns have made a flying start to their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup journey, seizing control of Group F with a 1-0 triumph over Ulsan Hyundai and becoming the first African club to win in the tournament’s expanded 32-team format.

Balanced Start, But Sundowns Break Away

While Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense played to a cagey 0-0 draw in their opening match, it was the South African champions who grabbed headlines by edging past Ulsan in their tournament debut.

With this result, Sundowns now sit alone atop Group F with 3 points:

• Mamelodi Sundowns – 3 pts
• Borussia Dortmund – 1 pt
• Fluminense – 1 pt
• Ulsan Hyundai – 0 pts

Cardoso: “A Dream Come True”

Speaking after the match, head coach Miguel Cardoso praised his team’s resilience:

“It’s a very positive result in a high-level tournament. We were well-prepared mentally and tactically. We controlled the first half and, although we missed chances later, we protected our lead.”

Cardoso added:

“Taking part in this competition is a dream. We’ll continue working hard to go as far as possible.”

Next Up: Dortmund Showdown

Sundowns’ next challenge will be a blockbuster clash with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, June 21, in a match that could decide the group winner. A result there would further cement their status as genuine contenders on the global stage.