Club World Cup Preview: Atlético Madrid

In partnership with

Hooligan Soccer

·2. Juni 2025

Club World Cup Preview: Atlético Madrid

The fifth in our continuing series highlighting all the clubs in the FIFA Club World Cup, which starts on June 14th.

Club Background

From: Madrid, Spain
How They Qualified: Atlético was selected based on their UEFA ranking pathway, mainly on the strength of their Champions League performances.
Best CWC Finish: This is their first appearance.

Recent Form: Finished third in La Liga with 76 points. Throughout the season they never placed lower than fourth. Finished fifth in the Champions League group play, and were eliminated by Real Madrid in the Round of 16 4 – 2 in penalties after finishing 2 – 2 on aggregate.
Facts: As one of Spain’s “Big Three” clubs, they have a plethora of domestic and international trophies in their display case at the Metropolitano, their home stadium. King Felipe IV of Spain is a fan and the honorary president of the club. 37% of the team is Spanish; 27% hail from Argentina.

The Team

Manager: Diego Simeone Simeone is the longest tenured manager of any club in the tournament, having taken the reins back in 2011.
Star Players: Antoine Griezmann At 34, Frenchman Griezmann is still up there with the kids in terms of energy and output. Last season he logged 16g/9a and has the club record for most goals scored with 197. Julián Álvarez This former Manchester City player moved to Madrid last August and Leads the team with 29g/7a. Conor Gallagher The ex-Chelsea midfielder may not put up big numbers (4g/4a) but brings incredible passion and verve onto the pitch.
Young Players to Watch: Atlético doesn’t have too many young players on its roster. Their defense is particularly seasoned with an average age of nearly 29. One standout is Giuliano Simeone, 22 year old midfielder, who has 5g/8a. Yes, he is the coach’s son but he’s earned his spot in the lineup.

When to Watch

12:00pm ET on Jun 15, 2025 vs. Paris Saint-Germain @ The Rose Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
3:00pm ET on Jun 19, 2025 vs. Seattle Sounders @ Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
12:00pm ET on Jun 23, 2025 vs. Botafogo @ The Rose Bowl, Los Angeles, CA

The Hooligan Take

Pulling PSG in your group is tough luck, but the silver lining is if you get out of the group you shouldn’t see them again until much later in the bracket. They also play them first, which is an advantage. Atlético is always capable of the upset. They really should have little trouble in handling the other two teams in the group and should advance.