Real Madrid advanced to the Club World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, with a narrow 1-0 victory over Juventus. A second-half goal from Gonzalo Garcia, an academy graduate, proved to be the difference between the two sides. The match took place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with a reported attendance of 62,149.
Garcia, who has been filling in for Kylian Mbappe, scored his third goal of the Club World Cup in the 54th minute with a header. Mbappe had been sidelined due to a gastrointestinal illness, forcing him to miss Real Madrid's three group stage matches. Garcia has impressively contributed a goal in each of his appearances in the tournament.
Despite Mbappe's absence, the 21-year-old Garcia stepped up, leading the team's attack. Real Madrid showcased their dominance in the second half, outshooting Juventus 11-2 in shots on target. Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio put up a strong performance, making 10 saves to keep his team in the game.
Mbappe made his Club World Cup debut in the 68th minute, substituting Garcia and receiving a warm welcome from the fans. Many fans in the stadium wore his jersey and chanted his name.
The first half was evenly contested, with both teams creating opportunities. Randal Kolo Muani's shot went over the bar early in the game, while Federico Valverde's attempt was saved by Di Gregorio. Arda Guler also had a good game, causing problems for Juventus with his crosses. Vinicius Jr. had an early chance, but his shot was deflected.
Real Madrid will now face the winner of the match between Borussia Dortmund and Monterrey in the quarter-finals. The quarterfinal match is scheduled to take place on Saturday at MetLife Stadium.
The 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 knockout stage. The tournament is being held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. The winner of the Club World Cup 2025 could receive up to £97m ($125m) from FIFA. A total of £774m ($1bn) in prize money will be shared between the 32 clubs.
