Error code: %{errorCode}
Club World Cup Fantasy preview: Groups E and F
Our countdown to the start of the official FIFA Club World Cup™ Fantasy game continues with a look at Groups E and F.
Play the official FIFA Club World Cup Fantasy game
Group E (FC Internazionale Milano, CF Monterrey, CA River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds)
Internazionale (Italy)
Overview: Having been humbled in the UEFA Champions League final, the storied Italian outfit, under new head coach Cristian Chivu, head to the USA looking to re-set.
With the new coach could well come new ideas but plenty are convinced there is fantasy gold waiting to be mined at the Serie A side, with defender Denzel Dumfries ($6.3m) and keeper Yann Sommer ($5.4m) among the most popular picks in the game.
With 14 goals and seven assists in the league and lingering fitness questions over Lautaro Martinez ($9.8m), perhaps Marcus Thuram ($8.5m) could be the forward to own while midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu ($7.2m) and Nicolo Barella ($7.0m) also have appeal in a game where clean sheets, tackles and chances created all earn points.
Key contributors: Marcus Thuram ($8.5m), Denzel Dumfries ($6.3m)
Value picks: Hakan Calhanoglu ($7.2m), Yann Sommer ($5.4m)
Set-piece takers: Hakan Calhanoglu ($7.2m), Federico Dimarco ($5.8m)
Top picks: Denzel Dumfries (40%) Yann Sommer (28%), Alessandro Bastoni (10.9%)
Monterrey (Mexico)
Overview: With Domenec Torrent recently appointed to the head coach role and a vocal backing assured, Monterrey will have designs on impressing in the USA.
Boasting plenty of experience in the likes of Sergio Ramos ($5.3m), who has been garnering fantasy attention, perhaps the best value lies with Sergio Canales ($6.1m) who has seven goals and six assists so far this season.
Key contributors: Sergio Canales ($6.1m), German Berterame ($6.0m)
Value picks: Nelson Deossa ($4.5m), Ricardo Chavez ($4.6m)
Set-piece takers: Sergio Canales ($6.1m), Sergio Ramos ($5.3m)
Top picks: Sergio Ramos (2.6%), Fidel Ambriz (0.6%), Gerardo Arteaga (0.5%)
River Plate (Argentina)
Overview: Although the Argentine powerhouses enter in mixed form they have been scoring freely in the build-up to the tournament - 18 goals in their past six outings – and it’s perhaps there where most fantasy interest should be focused.
Real Madrid-bound starlet Franco Mastantuono ($4.3m) has been in fine form, with four goals and as many assists so far this term. Given he’s also likely to be taking corners and free kicks he stands as arguably the bargain buy of the entire tournament.
Elsewhere, keeper Franco Armani ($4.0m) and Gonzalo Montiel ($5.1m) have their admirers in the hope that River can tighten up a defence that has only kept one clean sheet in their past eight outings in all competitions.
Key contributors: Franco Mastantuono ($4.3m), Sebastian Driussi ($6.4m)
Value picks: Franco Armani ($4.0m), Marcos Acuna ($5.1m)
Set-piece takers: Franco Mastantuono ($4.3m), Marcos Acuna ($5.1m)
Top picks: Franco Mastantuono (23%), Franco Armani (17%), Gonzalo Montiel (2%)
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
Overview: One of Japan – and Asia’s – best supported clubs enter the tournament flying perhaps ever so slightly under the radar, but they’re targeting progression and then a run in the knockouts after that.
Veteran keeper Shusaku Nishikawa ($4.4m) heads up a defence that also includes value in the likes of Danilo Boza ($4.2m) but it’s in attack where their key asset is to be found. A key creative threat and also a capable finisher means that Matheus Savio ($5.4m) could be a valuable source of points for the Saitama outfit at the global showpiece.
Key contributors: Matheus Savio ($5.4m), Ryoma Watanabe ($5.4m)
Value picks: Hiiro Komori ($4.1m), Samuel Gustafson ($5.2m)
Set-piece takers: Matheus Savio ($5.4m), Ryoma Watanabe ($5.4m)
Top picks: Ryusei Sato (0.9%), Kaito Yasui (0.6%), Shun Yoshida (0.5%)
Group F (Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense FC, Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Ulsan HD)
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Overview: Dortmund head to the USA in a buoyant mood having won their last half a dozen competitive outings in all competitions, scoring at least three times in each of those.
That may be a good indicator of where their best fantasy assets lie, with forward Serhou Guirassy ($9.0m) and midfielder Karim Adeyemi ($8.0m) both prolific over the recently concluded domestic campaign.
Julian Brandt ($6.5m) offers an affordable path to what could be a free-scoring midfield while young Swedish defender Daniel Svensson ($5.3m) has the potential to rack up both defensive and attacking points.
Key contributors: Serhou Guirassy ($9.0m), Karim Adeyemi ($8.0m)
Value picks: Julian Brandt ($6.5m), Daniel Svensson ($5.3m)
Set-piece takers: Serhou Guirassy ($9.0m), Julian Brandt ($6.5m),
Top picks: Serhou Guirassy (15.5%), Karim Adeyemi (11.6%), Gregor Kobel (7.8%)
Fluminense (Brazil)
Overview: The third of the Rio sides enter the tournament sitting four off the pace in their domestic league but have certainly been sharing the scoring burden. With 12 different players on target among the 15 goals they’ve grabbed so far, there is fantasy potential to be found right across the squad.
Midfielder Jhon Arias ($6.2m) is perhaps the pick of the bunch, and with four assists (and a goal) to his name so far he provides multiple routes to fantasy returns.
Elsewhere, veteran leader Thiago Silva ($4.7m) is a solid defensive option while Matheus Martinelli ($5.5m) is a hard-working central midfielder who could present multiple ways to collect points.
Key contributor: Jhon Arias ($6.2m)
Value picks: Matheus Martinelli ($5.5m), Thiago Silva ($4.7m)
Set-piece takers: Jhon Arias ($6.2m), German Cano ($5.9m)
Top picks: Thiago Silva (2.1%), Jhon Arias (1%), Fabio (0.7%)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Overview: We have a club nicknamed the ‘Brazilians’ in a group that contains actual Brazilians from Rio. The Sundowns have certainly lived up to that reputation for success and flair and have dominated the local scene, claiming each of the last eight titles.
With a whopping 16 goals and nine assists in the previous campaign, midfielder Lucas Ribeiro ($5.7m) is a tempting mid-range option. Forward Iqraam Rayners ($5.8m) also tallied an eye-catching 23 goal contributions while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams ($5.0m) is one of the best on the continent at his position.
Key contributors: Lucas Ribeiro ($5.7m), Iqraam Rayners ($5.8m)
Value picks: Ronwen Williams ($5.0m), Tashreeq Matthews ($5.5m)
Set-piece takers: Lucas Ribeiro ($5.7m), Teboho Mokoena ($4.5m)
Top picks: Ronwen Williams (2.5%) Lucas Ribeiro (1.8%), Kuliso Mudau (1.4%)
Download the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ App
Ulsan HD (Korea Republic)
Overview: The two-time Asian champions had a torrid time in continental action this season, losing six of their seven outings there. Their recent form is patchy too, with just one win in four heading into the Club World Cup.
Nonetheless, Kim Pangon’s outfit do have some tempting options, with Erick Farias’ ($6.0m) seven league goals contributing close to a third of the team’s total tally.
At the back, veteran Korea Republic stars could be wise investments, with keeper Jo Hyeonwoo ($5.1m) a fine shot-stopper and central defender Kim Younggwon ($5.1m) offering potential for points at both ends of the pitch.
Key contributors: Erick Farias ($6.0m), Darian Bojanic ($5.6m)
Value picks: Jo Hyeonwoo ($5.1m), Kim Younggwon ($5.1m)
Set-piece takers: Erick Farias ($6.0m), Darian Bojanic ($5.6m)
Top picks: Yoon Jonggyu (0.4%), Jo Hyeonwoo (0.2%), Erick Farias (0.2%)
