Who are Dortmund's FIFA Club World Cup opponents? | OneFootball

Who are Borussia Dortmund's FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group F opponents?

With Borussia Dortmund's trip to the USA for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on the horizon, bundesliga.com gives you the rundown on their group stage opponents Fluminense, Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD...

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Fluminense (Brazil)

When: 17 June

Where: MetLife Stadium, New York

How they qualified: Fluminense booked their ticket for the tournament by claiming the Copa Libertadores for the first time in the club's history in 2023. That prestigious continental title also got them into the previous format of the FIFA Club World Cup, in which they reached the final but tasted defeat at the hands of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

Their credentials: One of the biggest clubs in Brazil, Flu (as they're nicknamed) have won four top-flight titles and one Brazilian Cup, as well as the 2023 Cope Libertadores and the 2024 Recopa Sudamericana. With a stellar list of former players, including Ronaldinho, Rivellino and Romário - and that's just a few of the R's! - they have a grand history and a reputation for true grit that spawned the nickname Time de Guerreiros, or Team of Warriors.

Star men: Flu are captained by Brazilian footballing institution Thiago Silva, who fans of AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea won't forget any time soon. To this bedrock are added the attacking talents of Brazilian playmaker Ganso, Uruguay forward Agustin Canobbio and Argentinean striker German Cano, who has racked up no fewer than 98 goals in 182 league appearances for the club.

Brazil legend Thiago Silva now captains Dortmund's future Club World Cup opponents Fluminense. (IMAGO/Ruano Carneiro)

Record vs. Dortmund/ German clubs: Fluzão (Big Flu, the nickname fans use when in more expansive mood) have never faced a German club in official competition.

Anything else? The club name comes from the Latin word flumen, meaning river, and is a reference to the giant river that gives the club's home city of Rio de Janeiro its name. The term Fluminense was used to describe people from this region, and was the perfect name for the club founded by Anglo-Brazilian Oscar Cox back in 1902.

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

When: 21 June

Where: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

How they qualified: The club from Pretoria earned their ticket to North America via the CAF ranking pathway. Their consistent presence in the CAF Champions League ensured that they - the only sub-Saharan club to make the cut - would return to FIFA competition for the first time in 10 years.

Their credentials: Founded in 1967, the Sundowns are giants of the South African game, with a record 14 national titles, of which a record seven were clinched consecutively between 2018 and 2024. They also boast six cups, four league cups, the 2016 CAF Champions League title and a host of records for most wins, fewest losses, biggest goal difference and biggest title win among others. They also have a youth academy that produced arguably the club's best-ever player: Percy Tau, whose attacking exploits drove the league and CAF Champions League double in 2016.

Star men: The main man for the Sundowns is, without doubt, attacking midfielder and captain Themba Zwane. At the club since 2011, he has racked up over 400 appearances and scored 53 league goals from his preferred position behind the central striker. The club nicknamed 'The Brazilians' - after legendary owner Zola Mahobe changed the club's strip to mirror that of the South American giants - actually have a couple of Brazilian players, notably striker Lucas Ribeiro Costa, who has plundered 21 goals in 31 appearances in a Mamelodi shirt.

Mamelodi Sundowns legend Themba Zwane (r.) in action against rivals Kaizer Chiefs. (imago sportfotodienst)

Record vs. Dortmund/ German clubs: The Sundowns have never faced a German club in official competition.

Anything else? The club's famous CAF Champions League win was made all the more remarkable by the fact that they never even qualified for it! Eliminated by AS Vita Club in a preliminary round, they were given their chance when Vita were disqualified for having fielded an ineligible player in an earlier round. The rest is history...

Ulsan HD

When: 25 June

Where: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

How they qualified: Ulsan HD qualified through the AFC ranking pathway, with consistently strong showings in the AFC Champions League, where they reached the semi-finals in 2020/21 and 2023/24, ensuring their participation.

Their credentials: One of the most successful clubs in K League 1 history, Ulsan HD (Formerly Ulsan Hyundai) boast five league titles and five Korean league cups, with single titles claimed in the Korean FA Cup and Korean Super Cup. In continental competition, they have two AFC Champions League titles to their name, with wins in 2012 and 2020.

Star men: Stalwart Keeper Jo Hyeon-woo provides the foundation for Ulsan's success and has claimed three K League 1 titles with the club, as well as earning the league's MVP award - just the second time ever it has been awarded to a keeper. Experienced South Korea international Woo-young Jung provides further stability in defence or defensive midfield, backing up the likes of Venezuela livewire Matías Lacava. The 22-year-old spent time with the youth teams at Barcelona and Lazio and this pedigree shows when his flair and creativity is unleashed. He only arrived in January 2025, so will be looking to make his name at the club with a strong showing in North America.

Record vs. Dortmund/ German clubs: Ulsan have never faced a German club in official competition.

Anything else? That AFC Champions League win in 2020 came with coach Kim Do-Hoon essentially a caretaker. After agonisingly losing the league title - a fourth season in a row without K-League gold - Kim was on the way out. But given that it was the COVID-19 pandemic, with the tournament delayed and converted into a one-off bubble format in Qatar, Kim stayed until the end of the season. And what resulted was an underdog story for the ages, with Ulsan winning every knockout round match, often coming from behind in dramatic fashion, before beating Iran's Persepolis in the final.

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