Mamelodi Sundowns are gearing up for their FIFA Club World Cup campaign, with a determined mindset as they prepare to face Ulsan HD of South Korea in their opening match. The game is set to take place at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Sundowns qualified for the expanded Club World Cup due to their strong performance in African club competitions over the past four years. However, they're coming off a recent loss to Pyramids of Egypt in the CAF Champions League final, adding extra motivation to perform well in this global tournament.
Goalkeeper coach Kennedy Mweene, who has previous Club World Cup experience from 2016, emphasised the team's ambition: "Even though we have a couple of youngsters in our team, it is important that we go there and compete and not just to participate."
The Brazilians face a challenging Group F that includes Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense, making the match against Ulsan HD a crucial one to secure a positive start. Coach Miguel Cardoso acknowledged the difficulty of the competition: "I know it's going to be tough but I expect it to be beautiful. We need to take it to the limit." He added that progressing from the group stage would be an “incredible achievement”.
Ulsan HD, also known as the 'Gangsters of Asia', are the reigning K League 1 champions and will pose a significant challenge to Sundowns. Coach Cardoso is excited about the diverse competition, stating, "I am pretty excited to see an African team against an Asian team and am curious to see how we deal with playing Dortmund and a Brazilian team."
Key Match Details:
- Opponent: Ulsan HD (South Korea)
- Venue: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Group: F (Also featuring Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense)
Sundowns’ focus is clear: to showcase their talent and compete at the highest level in the FIFA Club World Cup.