FIFA Club World Cup Power Rankings: Man City leapfrog PSG for top spot; Inter Miami last of surviving 16

The field is cut in two at the club World Cup and for all wobbles on the way the knockout phase is overlooking how you would have expected it before a ball was kicked.

Of course, Atletico Madrid went down, but group B always looked the most morbid, the one where the presence of two European super teams opened the door for a serious upset. On the way there were other surprising results, think of the loss of Chelsea against Flamengo or Benfica that Bayern Munich fell, but towards the end of the group stage, only three UEFA representatives had left and the five other richest clubs had passed. Participating in them is the team with Lionel Messi and someone who can afford to pay a lot of money for Spanish veterans.

This is not a tournament for the Underdogs. But who of the big animals in the field is a favorite to win it all? Here are the remaining 16 teams, ranked by how we see their chances of winning the World Cup of Club. That is a point that is worth confirming before Flamengo fans start to hang me. Better teams can get worse, much worse in the case of teams such as Inter Miami. Anyway, let’s go:

1. Manchester City (+1)

The only team with a 100% record in the group stage, Manchester City has quickly made their new signing sessions blood and manages Rodri’s minutes cunning so that he might be back to his best for the new Premier League season. “It has been a long, long time since we had such a performance on and next to the ball,” said Pep Guardiola after City’s 5-2 victory over Juventus.

“The players were dedicated and we are happy to beat one top.” This is just one game, but I think the players again felt what it was like to be a good team. “He is not wrong. With a favorable draw, this also looks like the team to beat.

2. Paris Saint-Germain (-1)

There is only a cigarette paper between one and two here, perhaps the difference is nothing more than the atmosphere that PSG gives in their defeat against Botafogo. This was a team that looked as if they had summarized their mountain when they won the Champions League, who cannot take care of themselves to worry about losing competitions at the Club World Cup now that they have reached none of their predecessors.

3. Real Madrid (-)

Apparently more a work in progress than at least one of the teams above them, the side of Xabi Alonso has not had no particularly serious test in the competition so far. The way in which they were brushed along Salzburg, however, has come well and the proof of the final round of luminaires is that Juventus should not challenge them unnecessarily, the beginning of a favorable path to the semi -final. The question is whether their system and strongest XI, if only for the rest of the tournament. will be determined by the time that starts.

4. Chelsea (+2)

The side of Enzo Maresca has not been particularly good during this competition and earned it to be put aside by Flamengo. What they have been, however, is happiness, especially in that goal of Andreas Schjelderup to deliver Benfica first place about Bayern Munich. That means that Chelsea landed in a completely more favorable quadrant of the draw, even if both Benfica and the winner of Palmeiras vs. Botafogo can give them an almighty test. They must be favorites for a semi -final and from there who knows.

Chelsea shows how much the Club World Cup means for them in 3-0 win over Esperance the tunisie on Tuesday

Chuck Booth

5. Bavaria Munich (-1)

Everyone who ended the European season and at least feels a bit skeptical about the qualities of Bayern is not of that idea of ​​the club of Club, where they put together one team, where they should have gained heavily and have made a hard time against the opposition, only a few sports of them qualitatively. Perhaps their drop to second place is nothing more than the consequences of a few major opportunities missed, but there is a real risk that they will be punished by Flamengo if such a deprivation is punished.

6. Inter (-1)

The scrap between Inter and River at the last whistle in Seattle spoke with a competitive needle that often lacked at the club World Cup; You can feel that this competition offers absolution for a club bruised by their almost missers in the Serie A and the Champions League. It is of course possible that all those High Stakes Games will catch up with the side of Cristian Chivu as this competition wears out, not in the least considering the heavy weather they have made of TOPPING group E.

7. Borussia Dortmund (-)

The draw gods smile on Dortmund, offered a manageable draw against Monterrey as their reward for not ruining a very favorable group F. Is the end result of all this fortune the same that it was in the 2024 Champions League, a brushing aside by Real Madrid, how good for example plays? Probably.

8. Benfica (+1)

One of the many teams in this competition that are simply very difficult to judge behind the three games. The moment they had to fight back for a 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors, it looked like an overwhelming result. Now that we know how difficult South -American opponents are (especially Brazilian should be noted), does that result look more impressive? Did Benfica just hit Bayern Munich? Maybe, but when they pass Chelsea, their references may have to be taken more seriously.

Benfica will be the newest top European club, and first in Portugal, to guarantee American investments with minority sale

James Benge

9. Fluminense (+7)

In our pre-tournament-Power ranks we said that Fluminense seemed to miss the attacking spark of the other Brazilians. What we would not appreciate was how strong their defense could be, the 1.7 expected goals (XG) that are allowed by them are only improved by Bayern Munich. It is honest to say that the trek has been friendly to them and it can be given again that they have a tired -looking inter -interest for them. Their tie can be another for the regional watch.

10. Palmeiras (+1)

Given that we had expected such great things from Palmeiras who came into this competition, it is difficult to shake the feeling that they are the member of the Brazilian quartet that at least made an impression. Yet they are unbeaten and they probably just had been a bit of a shame for the goal. When Willian Estevao and Vitor Roque click, this can be the team to get through what we call “Chelsea’s quadrant of favorability”.

11. Botafogo (+13)

After having yielded the result of the tournament in their victory over PSG, Botafogo kept their courage against Atletico Madrid. It is a more complicated task that the margin of the defeat must keep among the three goals, then it looks like Fogo leaned heavily on goalkeeper John Victor and their defense, who all made an impression on this competition. A robust defense is a strong recipe for tournament success, although on average more than two xg is not against per match. On the other hand, it can take a while before Botafogo meets another team as well as the one they have met in the group stage. (Of course not counting the Seattle Sounders)

12. Juventus (-2)

Talking about back to earth with a thud. Perhaps the size of their 5-2 loss for Manchester City, behind Swashbuckling victories over Al-Aine and Wydad Casablanca, is limited by the six changes that Igor Tudor had made, which had his players too hard, since they had already qualified. Yet their inability means to protect a draw, it is Real Madrid in the last 16. That is probably the end of the road.

13. Flamengo (-)

This feels cruel low. Flamengo was perhaps the best of the Brazilian teams in this competition. Jorginho has been brilliant in midfield, Gonzalo Plata was an exciting breakout star of their victory over Chelsea. The only problem is that that victory sent them to the wrong side of the bracket, their route to the final probably Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Claiming another shock seems no further than Filipe Luis. However, it is difficult to see three.

14. Monterrey (+8)

Former Guardiola assistant Domenec Torrent has had an immediate impact on the Monterrey Dugout, undefeated in three games where his party was in extreme in the utmost against more talented opponents Inter and River Plate. From there it was a matter of doing work and doing this in style against Urawa Red Diamonds, a 4-0 win, which means that they did not have to worry about results in the other game.

15. Al-Hilal (-)

The Kobe Bryant speech Al-Hilal posted on social media after the 2-0 victory speaks to the mindset of the Saudi giants who enter the knockout phase. “Job is not ready.” The signing of Theo Hernandez is another attempt to provide Simone Inzaghi with as much talent as they can find and the draw with Real Madrid offers hope. Yet their encounter with Manchester City, full of geopolitical symbolism, is probably not heading.

16. Inter Miami (+2)

Inter Miami may have the greatest that the game has ever seen by their side, but they do not pass Paris Saint-Germain, probably Bayern Munich, maybe Real Madrid and then perhaps Manchester City. No Sièrus.