CF Monterrey meets Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl | OneFootball

MIAMI – The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 continues as 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup winners CF Monterrey meet FC Internazionale Milano in Group E on Tuesday at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

Sixth Club World Cup for Rayados

CF Monterrey secured a place in the tournament by winning the 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Rayados is now set for its sixth participation, the most appearances for a Concacaf side in the global competition. The club previously appeared at the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2021 editions. Monterrey’s best finish in the tournament saw the team finish third on two occasions, in 2012 and 2019.

Defensively, Monterrey can count on Spanish legend Sergio Ramos to command the backline.

Sergio Canales and Germán Berterame, who finished the Liga MX Clausura 2025 with eight and six goals respectively, were the top scorers for Rayados this past campaign.

Inter returns to Club World Cup

Inter Milan qualified thanks to its strong performances over the four-year qualification period, securing its place as one of the European representatives through the UEFA ranking pathway. The historic Italian club achieved its position following excellent showings in the UEFA Champions League, including a run to the 2022/23 Final of the continental competition.

The Nerazzurri made one appearance under the previous format, claiming champions honors after topping Congolese club TP Mazembe 3-nil top win the 2010 edition.

Inter Milan recently wrapped up its 2024/25 season second in Serie A and as UEFA Champions League runners-up.

Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram, who scored 22 and 18 goals respectively across all competitions, were amongst the team’s top performers last season. The squad also features other key figures such as goalkeeper Yann Sommer, defender Alessandro Bastoni and midfielder Nicoló Barella.

Match Game Notes

●      Monterrey and Internazionale are meeting for the first time in a competitive match. It’s also the first match between teams from Mexico and Italy at the FIFA Club World Cup, including the previous format.

●      Monterrey made five appearances under the previous FIFA Club World Cup format, that’s more than any other Mexican club. Their best finish was third place, in 2012 and 2019.

●      Monterrey’s two previous FIFA Club World Cup matches against European teams both ended in a defeat: 1-3 v Chelsea in 2012, 1-2 v Liverpool in 2019.

●      Internazionale’s only previous FIFA Club World Cup participation under the previous format was in 2010, as UEFA Champions League title holders. They won the 2010 edition, scoring six goals and conceding none (3-0 v Seongnam FC in the semi-final, 3-0 v TP Mazembe in the final).

●      Monterrey qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup as winners of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League whilst Internazionale are in the competition as the fourth-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA 4-year ranking.

●      Monterrey have only won two of their five opening games in a single edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, including the previous format (D1 L2), losing the most recent such match against Al Ahly (0-1) in 2022 – they are looking to avoid consecutive defeats in those games.

●      Internazionale’s last competitive match against a side from North/Central/South America was back in 1965, against CA Independiente, winning the two legs final of the Intercontinental Cup with an aggregate score of 3-0 under Helenio Herrera.

●      Monterrey have only scored one of their 13 goals in the FIFA Club World Cup from outside the box (Vangioni v Al Sadd in 2019), including the previous format; Internazionale also scored one of their six goals in the competition from outside the box (Eto'o v TP Mazembe in 2010). Indeed, each of Internazionale’s six goals were scored by different players.

●      Monterrey are the team with the most goals scored by Argentinian players (8/13) in the FIFA Club World Cup, including the previous format, while 33% (2/6) of Internazionale’s goals in the competition were scored by Argentinian players (Javier Zanetti and Diego Milito in 2010).

●      Lautaro Martínez (173) and Marcus Thuram (172) were two of the four players with the most touches in the opposition box in the Serie A 2024-25 - only fewer than Ademola Lookman (219) and Mateo Retegui (186) – while Hakan Çalhanoglu (29) and Federico Dimarco (21) were two of the three players with the most chances created from set play - only fewer than Aarón Martín (41).