🌎 The Club World Cup guide to...Atlético de Madrid | OneFootball

Our guide to all 32 clubs participating at the FIFA Club World Cup continues.

You can check out the full list so far here.

Today we're looking at...Atlético de Madrid.

How did they qualify for the Club World Cup?

📸 Angel Martinez - 2025 Getty Images

Despite their last continental trophy coming when they won the Europa League in 2018, Atlético qualified for the Club World Cup via the ranking pathway due to their consistent performances in the UEFA Champions League between 2020 and 2024.

History at the Club World Cup

Atlético have never before appeared at a Club World Cup.

They did win the 1974 Intercontinental Cup, beating Argentine outfit Independiente over two legs, which they qualified for as runners-up in the 1973/74 European Cup (the former name of the Champions League) after winners Bayern Munich declined to participate.

How did they perform in the 2024/25 season?

It was a campaign of near-misses for Atleti with the capital club finishing third in LaLiga, reaching the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and getting to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Who is the coach?

Diego Simeone was a fearsome take-no-prisoners midfielder during his playing days, and he has presided over a number of teams with similar characteristics during his coaching career.

The Argentine has been in charge of Atleti since 2011, during which time he has guided the club to two LaLiga titles, two Europa Leagues and a host of other honours.

Who is their star player?

Antoine Griezmann has been Atlético's icon for a number of years, but with the Frenchman now 34, the time is coming for the baton to be passed to a younger star.

Julián Alvarez moved to the Spanish capital in a €90m switch from Manchester City last summer, and has enjoyed an impressive debut season, scoring 29 goals in 54 appearances.

The Argentine is a quick, intelligent and dynamic forward player who had already won the World Cup, Champions League and Club World Cup by the age of 23, scoring the fastest goal in Club World Cup history after just 40 seconds of the 2023 final (while playing for Manchester City).

Expected performance at the Club World Cup

Los Colchoneros are in Group B, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain, Brazilian side Botofogo and Seattle Sounders.

If they can navigate that tricky group, they have the potential to go all the way but will hope to avoid rivals Real Madrid, who have often been a thorn in their side domestically and in Europe, and eliminated them from this season's Champions League.

📸 GOKHAN TANER