Mamelodi Sundowns are not just one win away from qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where they could face teams like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
FIFA will host the extended Club World Cup with teams from all confederation in the United States next year, with four African teams taking part.
Al Ahly and Wydad Athletic Club have already qualified as recent CAF Champions League winners. This year’s CAFCL champion – if other than Al Ahly – will also directly qualify for the tournament.
But there is also the “ranking pathway, which is based on the recent CAF rankings and the most likely route for Downs to book their ticket and it could happen as soon as Saturday evening in Rades.
How Sundowns qualify:
A semi-final first-leg win would guarantee their qualification for the global tournament next year as ES Tunis would not be able to catch up to them in the rankings pathway. With a win in Rades, Sundowns would move to 101 points in the CAF ranking, opening an 11-point gap to ES Tunis, which they wouldn’t not be able to close.
How ES Tunis qualify:
If ES Tunis win both semi-final legs, they would overtake Mamelodi in the rankings and seal their place in the United States. A draw would mean ES Tunis would need to win the semi-final second leg and one of the two legs of the final to overtake Mamelodi.
How both qualify:
There is a way both teams can qualify for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 — if Egypt’s Al Ahly progress to the final. This is because Al Ahly have already qualified as the current African champions, meaning two qualifying places will be opened in the rankings pathway and Sundowns as well as ES Tunis sit above TP Mazembe.
Meanwhile, all European spots are already secured, with Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea qualifying as recent UEFA Champions League winners, while Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Atletico Madrid all qualified via the rankings pathway.
