Alongside its Club World Cup guide, Sports Talk United here presents the Group B of the competition, which will take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13 2025.
Which teams are in Group B of the Club World Cup?
Pitting Paris Saint-Germain against Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and Seattle Sounders, Group B is undoubtedly one of the toughest of the tournament. Having just won the Champions League and completed a treble this season, the Parisians arrive at the Club World Cup as strong favourites.
The Colchoneros, who finished third in La Liga last season and are no strangers to major competitions, are also in with a shout.
Botafogo’s name may be less glamorous than those of their two previous opponents, but all of them will still have to be wary of Glorioso, the reigning Brazilian champions and winners of the Copa Libertadores in 2024. For their part, Sounders might well find that playing in the Club World Cup on home soil will take them to unexpected heights, given that their last major title came in 2022.
How did each Group B team qualify for the Club World Cup?
Paris Saint-Germain — France (UEFA)
Paris Saint-Germain didn’t have to wait until they won the 2025 Champions League to secure a place in the Club World Cup. Instead, they have been building on their performances in the competition for over a decade now.
Atletico de Madrid — Spain (UEFA)
Atletico may never have won the Champions League, but they are still a major force on the European stage. The fact that they finished sixth in the UEFA rankings between 2020 and 2024 is testament to this, and has helped them secure their place in the competition.
Botafogo — Brazil (CONMEBOL)
By beating Atletico Mineiro (1-3) in the final of the Copa Libertadores 2024, Botafogo became the 32nd and last team to qualify for the Club World Cup. It was a huge coup for the Brazilians, who won the first continental title in their history.
Seattle Sounders FC — United States (Concacaf)
It took 22 years, between 2000 and 2022, for a US club to lift the Concacaf Champions Cup trophy. A feat accomplished by the Seattle Sounders, who took advantage of the opportunity to validate their ticket for the Club World Cup.
Group B match schedule: Key dates and fixtures
The first match in Group B will be a clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid on June 15 at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. There will then be one match after another until June 23, when the four teams will face each other at the same time to conclude their group phase.
- June 15: Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico — Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles (12pm EDT, 8pm BST, 9pm CEST)
- June 15: Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders FC — Lumen Field, Seattle (7pm EDT, 3am BST, 4am CEST)
- June 19: Seattle Sounders FC vs Atletico — Lumen Field, Seattle (3pm EDT, 11pm BST, 12am CEST)
- June 19: Paris Saint-Germain vs Botafogo — Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles (6pm EDT, 2pm BST, 3pm CEST)
- June 23: Atletico vs Botafogo — Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles (12pm EDT, 8pm BST, 9pm CEST)
- June 23: Seattle Sounders FC vs Paris Saint-Germain — Lumen Field, Seattle (12pm EDT, 8pm BST, 9pm CEST)
Key players to watch in Group B
Desire Doue — Paris Saint-Germain
Of all the talented players in PSG’s squad, Desire Doue is one of the brightest. The young French forward has put in a string of outstanding performances since the start of 2025, most notably in the recent Champions League final, where he scored twice and provided an assist in his side’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan. A masterpiece that earned him the Man of the Match award.
Julian Alvarez — Atletico de Madrid
Transferred to Atletico last summer, Julian Alvarez has been quick to acclimatise to his new surroundings. Scoring 29 goals in 54 games across all competitions, the Argentinian has enjoyed a fine first season in Spain. His honours list includes the scalps of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen, whom he single-handedly beat in the Champions League.
Jair Cunha — Botafogo
Regarded as one of the greatest talents in Brazilian football, Jair Cunha could take advantage of the Club World Cup to leave his calling card in the public eye. Could it be a final farewell tour of Botafogo for the 20-year-old defender, whose transfer to Nottingham Forest is the subject of much speculation? That may well be. So why not give it his all and try to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of the Glorioso fans.
Obed Vargas — Seattle Sounders FC
At just 19 years of age, Obed Vargas has a chance to shine on the world stage. A product of the Sounders academy, the Mexican international midfielder is already one of the players Brian Schmetzer regularly relies on in midfield. Having already made 107 appearances for the Rave Green, Vargas could well soon be attracting interest from European clubs.
What’s at stake in Group B?
The fact that Group B looks particularly interesting doesn’t mean that the big favourites to qualify, PSG and Atletico, can have their status challenged.
However, with a season under their belts and the prospect of a new one already on the horizon, a surprise is not out of the question. It’s up to Botafogo and the Sounders to seize their chance.
