Real Madrid have advanced to the next stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 after defeating Juventus 1-0 in a tightly contested match. The game, held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, saw Gonzalo Garcia score the decisive goal in the 54th minute.
The match was a round of 16 encounter in the tournament, which is taking place in the United States across 12 venues in 11 cities from June 14 to July 13, 2025. Real Madrid entered the match as the top team from Group H, while Juventus advanced as runners-up in Group G.
Real Madrid had a strong showing in the group stage, with a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal, followed by a 3-1 victory over Pachuca, and a 3-0 win against RB Salzburg. Juventus, on the other hand, had a mixed group stage, with a 5-0 win against Al Ain and a 4-1 victory over Wydad Casablanca, but also suffered a 5-2 defeat to Manchester City.
The game saw the return of French forward Kylian Mbappe, who made his first appearance of the tournament as a substitute after recovering from an illness. However, it was Gonzalo Garcia who stole the show, scoring his third goal of the tournament and securing the victory for Real Madrid.
Juventus' coach, Igor Tudor, acknowledged Real Madrid's superiority in the match. He said that his team gave everything they could, but it was not enough, and he congratulated Real Madrid on their win. Juventus will now head for their summer breaks before returning to action with a preseason friendly away at Dortmund in August.
The victory means Real Madrid will now face either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the quarterfinals. With a prize pool of $1 billion USD, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is set to crown the best men's football team in the world. The tournament features 32 clubs competing in a format similar to the FIFA World Cup.