NFL
By Keith Richards
We are one day away from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup! It looks like we made it! However, there is one last piece of business we must handle. Group H still needs analysis. After seven long articles, this is the end. What will you do with all your time now? Obviously, you will be watching the CWC. These guides of ours will hopefully make you the local football expert. Enough time wasting. Let’s get to Group H!
As always, we will examine each club’s history, discuss how each currently performs in its respective domestic leagues, and pick which two teams will advance to the Knockout Stage. So, let’s get right to it!
Real Madrid CF – La Liga (Spain)
In these big international tournaments, the organizers try to maintain a competitive balance as much as possible. Nevertheless, this is not always possible. Group H may be the one group in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup where there is no question who the best is. The best of Group H is, without question, Real Madrid CF. Not only is Real Madrid the best club in Group H, but it’s also the best club in the world coming into the CWC.
Madrid is the number one club worldwide according to IFFHS. IFFHS released their updated rankings yesterday. Real Madrid was the number one club in the rankings used to analyze the other seven groups. Nothing changed in the newest rankings. Hence, Real Madrid will be the number one club in the world in the foreseeable future. What makes them so good now, and what made them so good in the past?
Founded in 1902, Real Madrid CF is the king of La Liga. They are one of only three clubs never to be relegated from Spain’s top-flight division. Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona are the other two clubs never to be relegated. Since winning their first title in the 1931-32 season, Madrid has won at least one La Liga title every decade except for the 1940s. They would make up for not winning a title in the 1940s.
Between the 1953-54 and 1979-80 seasons, Real Madrid won 18 La Liga titles. Five years later, Madrid would start another impressive 26-season run. Between the 1985-86 and 2011-12 seasons, Real Madrid CF won 12 La Liga titles. In total, Real Madrid has won La Liga 36 times. Additionally, they have been runners-up for the title 26 times, second only to FC Barcelona all-time.
Over the past ten seasons, Madrid’s title pace has slowed in La Liga. While they have won four titles, FC Barcelona has bested them and won five times, including the 2024-25 season. Real Madrid makes its name on the international stage in the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Real Madrid CF has more UEFA Champions League (15) and FIFA Club World Cup (5) titles than any club in history.
However, for all its greatness, Real Madrid comes into the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup without a major trophy since 2024. That’s a problem for the rest of the tournament. It means that they will be hungry. Real Madrid CF is one of the favorites to win the CWC. Don’t be surprised if they take home their sixth FIFA Club World Cup title.
Al Hilal – Saudi Pro League
In recent history, the most famous club in the Saudi Pro League has arguably been Al Nassr. Why? Because Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers ever, played there. However, one club is king in the Saudi Pro League: Al Hilal. Al Hilal is the most successful club in Saudi Pro League history. Additionally, Al Hilal, which means the Crescent Moon in Arabic, is one of the most successful in Saudi Arab domestic cup history.
Founded in 1957, Al Hilal has been in the top flight of Saudi Arabian football since the Saudi Premier League was established in the 1976-77 season. The Crescent Moon would win the first two Saudi Premier League titles. The Saudi Premier League existed until 2007. During that stretch, Al Hilal won 11 titles, more than any other club. In 2008, the Saudi Pro League became the new brand. Since then, Al Hilal has won eight Saudi Pro League titles.
All in all, the Crescent Moon has 19 titles, also more than any other club. Only Al Ahli (13) has more titles in the King’s Cup domestic competition than Al Hilal (11). The Crescent Moon’s 13 titles were the most all-time in the now-defunct Crown Prince’s Cup. Al Hilal’s five Saudi Super Cup titles solidify them as one of, if not the best, Saudi clubs in football history.
Yet, Al Hilal’s winning ways don’t end with Saudi Arabian football. They are also the most successful club in the history of the AFC Champions League Elite competition. The Crescent Moon won titles in 1991, 2000, 2019, and 2021. Additionally, they were the runners-up in the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup.
While Al Hilal is a giant in the AFC confederation, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is a different animal. There are 32 clubs, far more than the seven that participated in the 2022 edition of the CWC. Coming into Group H, the Crescent Moon is the 81st-best club worldwide, according to IFFHS. Still, given their group, Al Hilal has a good chance of making it to the Knockout Stage.
CF Pachuca – Liga MX (Mexico)
If you’ve been here from the beginning, CF Pachuca is a club you’re familiar with. If you recall, CF Pachuca and Club León qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Pachuca drew Group H, and León drew Group D. However, since Grupo Pachuca owns both clubs, only one could stay. León drew the short straw. So, CF Pachuca must now carry the torch for both clubs.
Pachuca is a CONCACAF powerhouse and one of the most successful clubs in Liga MX history. Their seven titles put them in the top ten all-time for MX titles won. CF Pachuca won its last Liga MX title in 2022 as the Apertura champion. However, it was their first title since 2016. Furthermore, they haven’t historically been among the best clubs in the Liga MX. Pachuca wouldn’t win its first title until 1999.
The same can be said for CF Pachuca’s CONCACAF Champions Cup history. While Pachuca does have six CONCACAF Champions Cup titles (second-most all-time), it did not win its first title until 2002. However, CF Pachuca would win again in 2007, 2008, 2009-10, 2016-17, and 2024. Recently, Pachuca has seen success in international FIFA competitions.
CF Pachuca won the inaugural FIFA Challenger Cup and the FIFA Derby of the Americas and placed second in the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup. However, it’s been a bit of a struggle recently in Liga MX. CF Pachuca finished eighth in the 2024-25 Clausura, eighth in the 2024-25 Apertura, and seventh in the 2023-24 Clausura.
CF Pachuca comes into Group H as the 313th-best club worldwide, according to IFFHS rankings. They face stiff competition in the Group. However, they are coming from the recent success of the Derby of the Americas, Challenger Cup, and Intercontinental Cup. Who knows? Maybe they duplicate that success, where they beat Botafogo and Al Ahly, and surprise us?
FC Salzburg – Austrian Bundesliga
Finally, we have FC Salzburg in Group H. Outside of FIFA and UEFA competitions, the club is called FC Red Bull Salzburg. However, due to sponsorship restrictions, it must wear a modified crest when competing at those levels. Red Bull or no Red Bull, Salzburg is a quality club that’s one of the best in the Austrian Bundesliga.
Only two clubs have more Austrian football championships than FC Salzburg: Rapid Wien (32) and Austria Wien (24). However, in recent history, Salzburg has been the most dominant club. Even though FC Salzburg did not win its first title until the 1993-94 season, they have the third-most titles in Austrian Bundesliga history with 17. No club has won more Austrian Bundesliga titles in the past ten seasons than Salzburg.
FC Salzburg won every championship between the 2015-16 and 2022-23 seasons (8). Sturm Graz has won the title the past two seasons, but it’s been tight. Salzburg were the runners-up both years, losing by only two points each season. In addition, FC Salzburg is one of the most successful clubs in the Austrian domestic cups.
Only two clubs have won more titles in the Austrian Super Cup, much like the Austrian Bundesliga: Austria Wien (27) and Rapid Wien (14). Salzburg’s success in the Austrian Cup mirrors its success in the Austrian Bundesliga. Historically, they were not dominant, but have been the dominant club recently. FC Salzburg did not win its first Austrian Cup until 2012. Since then, they have won nine titles (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022).
While Salzburg has been dominating Austrian football, IFFHS only ranks them as the 199th-best club worldwide. Still, IFFHS ranks the Austrian Bundesliga as the 25th-best league worldwide. If their performance in the UEFA Champions League is any indication, you shouldn’t expect much from FC Salzburg in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, but we could be wrong.
The Prediction
We’ll keep this simple. Real Madrid and Al Hilal will advance to the Knockout Stage from Group H. Both clubs have too much quality. Hopefully, one of the other three clubs can be a challenge for Real Madrid. Madrid will likely steamroll this group. However, that’s how trap matches happen. Real Madrid might get caught looking ahead and slip up. I don’t see that happening, though.
The Final Prediction
We’ve covered all groups and picked which teams will play in the Knockout Stage. Only one question remains: Who will be the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup champion? First, let’s recap which teams will advance to the Knockout Stage:
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Group A – FC Porto and SE Palmeiras
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Group B – Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético de Madrid
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Group C – FC Bayern Munich and SL Benfica
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Group D – Chelsea FC and LAFC
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Group E – Inter Milan and CA River Plate
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Group F – Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense FC
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Group G – Juventus FC and Manchester City
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Group H – Real Madrid CF and Al Hilal
There can only be one winner. In the Finals, we have Inter Milan vs. Real Madrid CF. Sorry, Inter, but you’ll also lose in this final. Real Madrid will be the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup winners, their sixth overall.
Who do you think will take the cup home? Hit us up on Twitter and share your winners!
