Atlético Madrid start a highly-intriguing FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Paris Saint-Germain in Pasadena, California on Sunday at 12pm local time.
The clash, which sees two of the tournament favourites go head-to-head, comes just 15 days after the French side were crowned UEFA Champions League winners for the first time.
This marks the first of three matches Atlético will play in the group stage of the inaugural edition of the tournament, doing so as one of two La Liga representatives alongside Real Madrid. Atleti’s city rivals will be competing for the first time under new boss Xabi Alonso, and with new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen potentially featuring in their first match next Wednesday.
On the other hand, Atlético will play at least the group stage with no new faces amidst the club’s inability to make any deals before the mini-window closed. You can read Into the Calderón’s full CWC rundown here.
Fans back in Spain have been split in opinion about the competition, which Atlético appears to be taking with utmost seriousness. Speaking to Argentinian outlet La Nación, Diego Simeone said:
“We are going to the Club World Cup to win it, that’s the goal.”
However, concerns have been raised as to how much this summer event will impact the start of the next domestic season, should the team progress to the latter stages in July.
Atlético and PSG have crossed paths as recently as last autumn, in the league phase of the Champions League — when Atlético pulled off a remarkable 2-1 win in Paris. Luis Enrique's men didn't quite show the level they are capable of in that November fixture, when Ángel Correa scored a 93rd-minute winner with a tame effort that Gianluigi Donnarumma pushed into the back of his own net.
Team news
Atlético have been training at the legendary Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles; the city will serve as Los Rojiblancos’ home base for the tournament.
Recent troubles in the city have seen an increase in security surrounding the players who are staying in the Conrad Hotel in downtown LA — a place that this week has seen violence occur right across the road.
On Tuesday, the full squad — featuring all of this season's players — travelled stateside, as well as five academy players (Esquivel, Ilias Kostis, Javi Serrano, Taufik, Rayane). This means the likes of César Azpilicueta, Axel Witsel, and Reinildo Mandava could still all feature for the club before their contracts expire at the end of the competition. Those playing in the recent international break — including Julián Alvarez and Rodrigo De Paul — joined their teammates a few days later.
All players appear to be healthy, although Clément Lenglet had previously been a doubt due to a hip injury. The French center-back left national duty early to be in the care of club medical staff and to ensure his availability before Sunday's match. Lenglet turned his loan spell at the Metropolitano into a permanent deal earlier this week after agreements were reached between Atleti and FC Barcelona.
It is unknown as of yet how El Cholo will set up his team, whether he'll opt for the 4-4-2 that he has stuck to for the majority of the season, or go to the 3-4-3 that he is rumoured to want to use next campaign. With no new signings in roles important to the latter system, this tournament is very much Atleti's final trophy to win in 2024/25, whereas some clubs have already started to view it as the first opportunity to win silverware in 2025/26.
The threat the PSG pose was evident on May 31, when the serial French champions completed their treble via a 5-0 dismantling of Inter Milan in the Champions League final. The verticality and directness of Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and co has terrorised defences across Europe in 2025 — on the evidence of how Atlético defended in the closing stages of the domestic season, the Ligue 1 champions have the tools to cause havoc in this game.
Paris Saint-Germain v FC Internazionale Milano - UEFA Champions League Final 2025 Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
However, Dembélé is unavailable for this match due to a quadriceps injury that could him the second group game against Botafogo, too. Winger Bradley Barcola (knee) is an injury doubt as well, which could help Atlético’s efforts to start this competition with three points.
Keep your eyes peeled for Atlético's new home shirt, released this week on the club’s official online store. A return to the classic straight red and white vertical stripes with the regained club badge is something fans have been crying out for from Nike for years now, and Sunday could be the first opportunity to see it for real.
Predicted lineup
Oblak; Llorente, Giménez, Lenglet, Galán; Giuliano Simeone, Koke, Barrios, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez.