Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On June 22, 2025, the second round of the FIFA Club World Cup Group F will feature a clash between Fluminense and Ulsan Hyundai. Let’s break down the best bet for this intriguing encounter.
Fluminense
Fluminense opened their Club World Cup campaign with a confident performance, holding Borussia Dortmund—their main rival for a playoff spot—to a 0-0 draw. Despite the lack of goals, the Brazilian side demonstrated solid organization and kept their hopes alive for progressing in the tournament.
The team is in excellent form, riding a seven-match unbeaten streak. In the domestic league, Fluminense sits sixth after 11 rounds, firmly in the mix for the top spots. They also remain in contention in the Brazilian Cup, having already advanced to the round of 16 where they’ll face Internacional.
On the international stage, Fluminense continues to deliver. In the Copa Sudamericana, they topped their group and secured a place in the playoffs, where they await the winner of Bahia (Brazil) vs América de Cali (Colombia).
Fluminense also boasts valuable Club World Cup experience: in 2023, they reached the final before falling to Manchester City 0-4. This run cements the Brazilians as one of the tournament’s most seasoned and prepared squads.
- See also: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Borussia Dortmund prediction, H2H and probable lineups – June 21, 2025
Ulsan
Ulsan returns to the Club World Cup for the first time since 2020. Back then, they failed to reach the semifinals, losing in the quarterfinals to Mexico’s Tigres and then falling 1-3 to Al-Duhail of Qatar in the fifth-place match.
This year’s campaign also started on a sour note—Ulsan suffered a 0-1 defeat to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in their opener, showing little sign of a positive result. The team is currently out of sorts: just one win, two draws, and two losses in their last five matches across all competitions. They are now winless in three straight games.
In the K League, Ulsan sits fourth, trailing leaders Jeonbuk by 12 points. They’ve reached the quarterfinals of the Korean FA Cup, where they’ll face Gwangju FC. However, their international season has been disappointing: Ulsan managed just 3 points from 7 matches in the AFC Champions League and failed to make the playoffs.
Up next is a historic first-ever meeting with Fluminense—a valuable test against a top-tier opponent. Ulsan will be eager to snap their winless run and prove their mettle on the big stage.
Probable lineups
- Fluminense: Fabio, Samuel Xavier, Thiago Silva, Freitas, Rene, Nonato, Hercules, Martinelli, Arias, Everaldo, Serna.
- Ulsan: Hyun Woo Cho, Trojak, Seo Myung Hwan, Kim Young Won, Ludwigson, Lee Chung Yong, Jung Woo Young, Bojanic, Ko Seung Beom, Um Won Sang, Erik Farias.
Key facts and head-to-head
- Fluminense have won 4 of their last 5 matches.
- Ulsan are winless in 4 of their last 5 matches.
- Ulsan have conceded first in 3 of their last 4 games.
- This is the first-ever meeting between these sides.
Fluminense vs Ulsan match prediction
Fluminense approach this fixture as clear favorites. The team boasts strong international pedigree—including their 2023 Club World Cup final appearance—and continue to impress both domestically and abroad. Unlike the Brazilians, Ulsan are struggling, winless in three straight and with a disappointing AFC Champions League group stage. In terms of quality, current form, and squad depth, Fluminense are the superior side, and a victory from them is the most likely outcome. My pick for this match: Fluminense to win with a -1.5 handicap at odds of 1.85.
