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Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid
What: FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Where: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, United States
When: Sunday, June 15, 12:00pm PDT kickoff (19:00 GMT)
How to follow our coverage: We’ll have all the build-up from 6pm (16:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport.
The first blockbuster clash of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) tournament takes place on Sunday when UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) clash with Spanish mega club Atletico Madrid at the famous Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, a historic venue for football in the United States.
Both clubs are chasing their first world title, adding even more intensity to a match that promises fireworks from the start.
Here is all to know ahead of the match:
One more crown to win for PSG
PSG, the freshly crowned kings of Europe, are treating FIFA’s lucrative new-look FIFA Club World Club not as a nuisance at the end of an exhausting season, but as a serious objective.
The rewards for success in the Club World Cup are enticing and should be enough to keep Luis Enrique’s squad focused on their objective, with up to a stunning $125 million in prize money on offer for the best-performing European team if they manage to go all the way.
“I think it is an incredible competition,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said of the Club World Cup in the immediate aftermath of his team’s UEFA Champions League triumph in Munich.
“Our aim is to be competitive and try to win a fifth trophy of the season.”
The Qatar-backed French giants could be forgiven for wanting some time to bask in the glory of their 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich, which allowed them to finally win the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Will PSG play their star names at the Club World Cup?
PSG have played 58 matches since last August, and also swept all the available domestic trophies in France this season, as has become the norm in recent years.
But there is simply no time to stop and reflect.
Many of their players, including Champions League final hero Desire Doue, spent last week on international duty before returning to their club and departing for Los Angeles, where they will begin their FIFA Club World Cup adventure this weekend.
“The tournament itself is a really attractive prospect,” Luis Enrique told FIFA.com.
“We have to strike the balance between managing the physical and mental fatigue we’re experiencing now at the end of a long season and harnessing the motivation that comes with being involved in the competition.”
After PSG’s opening game against Atletico, they will face South American champions Botafogo, of Brazil, before moving north to take on Seattle Sounders in their remaining Group B matches.
Expected to qualify for the knockout phase without too many issues, PSG could end up playing a total of seven matches if they make it all the way to the final in New York on July 13 – just a month before their scheduled first game of next season in the UEFA Supercup against Tottenham Hotspur.
Is star forward Ousmane Dembele available for selection?
The strain of such a long campaign is telling for PSG, with Ousmane Dembele – their top scorer this season with 33 goals – struggling with an injury picked up playing for France last week and is questionable to play in the CWC opener against Atletico.
If the 28-year-old is unavailable, then Enrique is likely to start the highly capable Goncalo Ramos in Sunday’s clash.
“He’s (Ramos) an invaluable player, both for me and for the team. A player of this level gives us a guarantee. He’s ready to play, whether it’s for 0 or 90 minutes. When you see him, he looks older, more mature. You don’t get the feeling that he’s 24 years old [he will be on 20 June], and it’s wonderful to coach a player like Ramos,” said Enrique.
Should the Portuguese striker get the nod on Sunday, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would likely complete the attacking trio.
Team news: PSG
With Dembele already a major question mark, Enrique’s attacking options are further depleted with attacking winger Bradley Barcola doubtful due to an ongoing knee issue.
There are no other injury concerns reported in the 24-player squad for the tournament.
Team news: Atletico Madrid
Coach Diego Simeone, who announced a 30-player squad on Friday, also has a relatively clean bill of health ahead of the opening match.
The only player not at full fitness is French defender Clement Lenglet, who was previously listed as doubtful as he continues to recover from a recent hip injury.
Simeone hasn’t confirmed who’ll partner star striker Julian Alvarez up front against PSG with Norwegian international Alexander Sorloth and French veteran Antoine Griezmann, who is currently enduring a goalless run of 16 games, in contention.
Possible lineups:
PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Moscardo, Ruiz; Doue, Ramos, Kvaratskhelia
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann
Head-to-head:
The teams have only played once before, on November 6, 2024, when a dramatic 93rd minute away winner by Atletico’s Angel Correa left PSG’s UEFA Champions League campaign on the brink of elimination during the league phase of the tournament.
Fortunately for PSG fans, the club ultimately recovered and went on to win it all.
PSG vs. Atletico Madrid – All Games
PSG: 0 wins
Atlético Madrid: 1 win
Draws: 0
Last meeting: PSG 1–2 Atletico Madrid (November 6, 2024) – UEFA Champions League
