Bayern Munich secured their place in the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors. The match, held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, saw Bayern maintain their dominance, although Boca Juniors proved a tough opponent.
Bayern Munich entered the match as favorites, boosted by their impressive 10-0 win against Auckland City in their opening game. Boca Juniors, on the other hand, were under pressure after drawing 2-2 with Benfica, needing a win to boost their chances of progressing to the next round.
The German side started strongly, with Michael Olise finding the net early on, although the goal was disallowed due to a foul. Bayern's pressure paid off when Harry Kane found the bottom corner of the net after a clearance, putting his team ahead. Despite Bayern's dominance in the first half, Boca Juniors remained resilient, with goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin making several crucial saves.
Boca Juniors showed renewed determination in the second half, and Miguel Merentiel leveled the score, beating Manuel Neuer after sidestepping Bayern's defenders. However, Bayern responded, with Kane assisting Olise who smashed the ball home to restore Bayern's lead with just ten minutes left on the clock.
The victory means Bayern Munich have booked their place in the knockout stages of the tournament. The expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025 features 32 teams competing in a format similar to the FIFA World Cup. The teams are divided into eight groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the round of 16. The tournament is being held across 11 cities in the United States, with the final scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium. DAZN is the host broadcaster, showcasing all 63 matches via their app.
Boca Juniors still have a chance to advance, but they need to win against Auckland City and hope that Benfica loses to Bayern.