Ulsan HD Aim to Make History in Club World Cup Opener Against Mamelodi Sundowns

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K League United

·15 de junio de 2025

Ulsan HD Aim to Make History in Club World Cup Opener Against Mamelodi Sundowns

South Korea’s Ulsan HD are set to face South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in their Group F opener at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 a.m. KST on June 18 at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, USA.

This marks Ulsan’s third appearance at the Club World Cup, following outings in 2012 (Japan) and 2020 (Qatar)—both of which ended with a sixth-place finish. This year, however, the tournament has undergone a major overhaul, expanding to 32 teams and adopting a four-year cycle akin to the FIFA World Cup, offering Ulsan a much larger global platform.

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Preparations in the U.S.

Ulsan arrived in the United States on June 6, travelling via Atlanta to set up base camp in Charlotte, North Carolina. There, they have been training at Charlotte FC’s facility, the Atrium Health Performance Park, acclimating to local conditions ahead of the opening match.

On June 10, the K League champions played a closed-door friendly against Charlotte FC, consisting of three 30-minute periods. Goals from Lee Chung-yong, Érick Farias, and Um Won-sang saw Ulsan find their attacking rhythm, while new Polish defender Milosz Trojak, standing at 191 cm, impressed with a commanding headed goal. Midfielder Lee Jin-hyun also got on the scoresheet.

Following a rest day, head coach Kim Pan-gon has squad has spent the past week fine-tuning fitness and tactical shape, with a clear focus on starting strong against Sundowns.

The Opponent: Mamelodi Sundowns

Based in Pretoria, Mamelodi Sundowns are no strangers to success. They arrive in the United States as eight-time reigning champions of South Africa’s Premier Division and 15-time winners overall—a national record. Their last Club World Cup appearance came in 2016, also finishing sixth.

Led by Portuguese head coach Miguel Cardoso, who took charge in December 2024, Sundowns play a possession-based, build-from-the-back style, similar to Ulsan’s. Cardoso has previous stints at Celta Vigo, AEK Athens, and Espérance, and is known for his tactical structure and effective use of space.

Key threats for Ulsan include Ikram Rayners—a quick and clinical forward who has scored double-digit goals in each of the past three seasons—and Lucas Ribeiro, a Brazilian playmaker with 20 goals and 13 assists in 48 games this season. Both players are valued at over €2 million, and both will be central to Sundowns' attacking ambitions.

Sundowns’ usual starting XI features seven or eight South Africa internationals, offering not only technical ability but also cohesion and chemistry. Add to that the flair of Brazilian and Chilean imports, and Ulsan’s defenders will need to be on high alert.

Hear from African football writer and expert Ali Howorth go into more detail about the Sundowns in the latest episode of the K League United Podcast...

Ulsan’s Key Men

Much will depend on Ulsan’s spine, with experienced centre-back Kim Young-gwon, new signing Trojak, and emerging talent Seo Myung-kwan expected to anchor the defence.

In attack, Érick Farias is the man to watch. The Brazilian forward earned plaudits for his powerful runs and finishing in the friendly against Charlotte and leads the team with eight goals in 14 K League 1 appearances this season.

Between the posts, Jo Hyeon-woo returns to the fold after international duty. A veteran of the 2020 Club World Cup campaign, Jo brings valuable experience and composure to a side looking to break new ground.

“I have to deliver—not just for Ulsan, but for Korea and Asia,” said Jo. “We’ll show our best from the very first match.”

The Bigger Picture

With the Club World Cup expanding into a full-scale global competition, this tournament is a golden opportunity for Asian clubs like Ulsan to make a global impression. A win over Mamelodi Sundowns would not only be a strong start but a powerful statement of intent.