2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD Preview | OneFootball

Ulsan HD will take on Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in their final match of the FIFA Club World Cup, aiming to end on a high before returning to K League action. But goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo and skipper Kim Young-gwon, two players who were involved in South Korea's shock 2-0 win over Germany in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, are both confident that Ulsan can put in a good performance and get a good result against Dortmund.

The Horangi will be looking to bare their teeth in search of a positive result in what will be their third and final Group F match of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, against German powerhouses Dortmund at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, at 4:00 AM (Korean time) on the 26th.

Two straight defeats has meant Ulsan's dreams of reaching the Round of 16 have been dashed, with a early exit already confirmed.

In their second Group F match against Fluminense of Brazil, which kicked off at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, at 7:00 AM KST on the 22nd, Ulsan's Lee Jin-hyun and Um Won-sang each recorded a goal and an assist, but could not prevent the team from losing 4-2.

In that match, Ulsan conceded the opening goal from a free kick, but Lee Jin-hyu equalized in the 37th minute with a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box, converting Um Won-sang's low cross. In first-half stoppage time, Um Won-sang got on the end of Lee Jin-hyun's precise left-footed cross with a diving header in front of Fluminense's goal to complete the comeback. They held their lead well until the middle of the second half but subsequently conceded consecutive goals, failing to produce a miracle.

Although Ulsan have failed thus far in their mission to secure any points, they demonstrated a clear football style against both Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa, 0-1 loss) and Fluminense, showcasing the strength of Asian football. In the post-match press conference, one Brazilian media outlet asked whether this match could serve as a milestone for an Asian team.

Manager Kim Pan-gon responded: "We felt there was a clear difference in the strength of the squads, but it was positive that we could compete fairly equally with some of the powerhouses in this tournament, not in a one-sided manner but competitively."

Though disappointing, Ulsan now have to shake off the result against Fluminense and prepare for their final 90 minutes of the tournament in their upcoming match against Dortmund.

Global sports outlet The Athletic named goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo as the only Ulsan player in its ‘50 Players to Watch at the Club World Cup’ list. The publication highlighted his memorable performance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he played a pivotal role in Korea’s historic 2–0 win over Germany in the group stage. Captain and key defender Kim Young-gwon scored the opening goal against Germany and also scored the equalizer for South Korea on their way to a 2-1 victory over Portugal in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Jo Hyeon-woo was a key figure in the ‘Miracle of Kazan’ seven years ago. During the 2018 Russia World Cup, he blocked all of Germany's numerous shots, helping Korea to victory. Defending champions Germany tasted the bitter defeat of group stage elimination and packed their bags early. The German team was engulfed in shock and horror, creating major headlines worldwide.

German outlet Kicker spotlighted Jo Hyeon-woo on the 15th: "If the retired Mats Hummels and Marco Reus, currently with LA Galaxy, had remained at Dortmund, four players including current members Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt could have experienced déjà vu. Now only Adeyemi and Brandt will face that goalkeeper (Jo Hyeon-woo). The two lost 0-2 to Korea at the Russia World Cup, and Germany was eliminated. Jo Hyeon-woo was outstanding then and is currently the star guarding Ulsan's backline."

After the Fluminense match, Jo Hyeon-woo said: "I think a lot about 2018. We can definitely win, and I believe it will happen. Since we have nothing to lose in the final match, if we really have a go, we definitely have a chance of winning. The manager, coaching staff, and players will prepare well during the time we have left to pull off a turnaround at the end. Just like when we defeated Germany, I'll do my best until the end to present victory to the Ulsan fans."

Captain Kim Young-gwon also expressed his determination: "Although we can no longer qualify for the Round of 16, the performance and outcome of the remaining match against Dortmund is important. This game will greatly influence our campaigns in both the K League and Korea Cup. I'll do my best to play well and have a positive impact on the remainder of our season."

If Ulsan are able to defeat Dortmund (4 points, 2nd place), an upset could occur where Fluminense (4 points, 1st place) and Mamelodi (3 points, 3rd place) both advance to the Round of 16. With the final 90 minutes approaching, Ulsan will be hoping to finish writing their story with one last dramatic chapter.