This Monday afternoon, the fate of the four teams in Group B of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 was decided. On one hand, Paris Saint-Germain beat Seattle Sounders 2–0 to secure their place in the round of 16. But the match with the highest stakes was the other one, where Atletico Madrid earned a 1–0 win over Botafogo.
After a heavy 4–0 loss to PSG in their opening match and a 3–1 victory over Seattle Sounders on Matchday 2, the Spanish side came into this game needing a win against the Brazilians, who had won both of their previous matches and led the group with 6 points. Any other result would have eliminated them, and even a win might not be enough.
And that’s exactly what happened on Monday. Despite beating Botafogo, Atletico Madrid were eliminated in the first round of the Club World Cup. Group B ended in a three-way tie at 6 points between Paris Saint-Germain, Botafogo, and Atletico Madrid, triggering the application of tiebreaker criteria.
The tournament rules state that in such cases, results among the tied teams must be compared using points, goal difference, and goals scored. There, the 4–0 defeat to PSG on Matchday 1 proved decisive in knocking the Spanish club out. Atletico Madrid became the first European team eliminated from the Club World Cup.
Disappointing season for Atletico Madrid
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 was Atletico Madrid’s last chance to claim a trophy this season. Inconsistent performances throughout the year left them falling short of expectations and unable to contend deep into any of the competitions they entered.
In the 2024–25 La Liga season, the Colchoneros finished third in the standings with 76 points, 12 behind champions Barcelona and 8 behind second-place Real Madrid. While that was enough to secure a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League, they never seriously challenged for the title.
In the Copa del Rey, Atletico Madrid reached the semifinals, where they were eliminated by Barcelona with an aggregate score of 5–4. And in the Champions League, they were knocked out by Real Madrid on penalties in the round of 16, after a 2–2 draw on aggregate.
What’s next for PSG and Botafogo?
The Group B qualifiers now have several days to rest before their next matches in the Club World Cup. As group winners, PSG will play on Sunday, June 29 at 12 PM (ET) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against the runner-up from Group A, which features Inter Miami, Porto, Al Ahly, and Palmeiras.
Botafogo, who finished second, will have a shorter break: they’re set to play on Saturday, June 28 at 12 PM (ET) against the Group A winner at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
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