Betting Tips
Matchday 1: Club World Cup Preview & Betting Tips with BetKing!
by Chike Nwoye
14 Jun 2025
The opening Matchday of the FIFA Club World Cup is stacked with drama and big names. PSG gets a shot at revenge against Atletico Madrid after their narrow loss back in November, Lionel Messi and friends will go up against Africa’s most decorated club, Al Ahly. And Chelsea are up against some familiar faces, including former striker Olivier Giroud. Check out our top bet predictions for Round 1 right here:
Our Picks:
- Bet Builder: Al Ahly Win or Draw + Lionel Messi Anytime Scorer @4.33
- Harry Kane Anytime Scorer @1.26
- Double Chance: PSG Win or Draw @1.22
- Palmeiras vs. Porto: Draw @ 3.30
- Botafogo Win @ 1.84
- Over 1.5 Chelsea Goals 1.36
- Over 1.5 Benfica Goals @ 1.88
- Flamengo Win @ 1.33
- Total Odds: 135.27
- Booking Code: 1E16NY
- Acca Bonus: 5%
The opening Matchday of the FIFA Club World Cup is stacked with drama and big names. PSG gets a shot at revenge against Atletico Madrid after their narrow loss back in November, Lionel Messi and friends will go up against Africa’s most decorated club, Al Ahly. And Chelsea are up against some familiar faces, including former striker Olivier Giroud. Check out our top bet predictions for Round 1 right here:
Our Picks:
- Bet Builder: Al Ahly Win or Draw + Lionel Messi Anytime Scorer @4.33
- Harry Kane Anytime Scorer @1.26
- Double Chance: PSG Win or Draw @1.22
- Palmeiras vs. Porto: Draw @ 3.30
- Botafogo Win @ 1.84
- Over 1.5 Chelsea Goals 1.36
- Over 1.5 Benfica Goals @ 1.88
- Flamengo Win @ 1.33
- Total Odds: 135.27
- Booking Code: 1E16NY
- Acca Bonus: 5%
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami
This year’s FIFA Club World Cup kicks off with a headline-grabbing clash between Inter Miami and African heavyweights, Al Ahly. The Egyptian side are the kings of the CAF Champions League, having won it a record 12 times, including 4 in the last 6 years.
While Al Ahly haven’t lifted the Club World Cup trophy or even reached the final, they’ve won the bronze medal in 3 of the last 4 editions, so they definitely know their way around this competition.
Inter Miami’s place in the tournament raised eyebrows, as they didn’t exactly “earn” it the traditional way - it was handed to them. Still, no one’s complaining too loudly when Lionel Messi’s involved. The 8-time Ballon d’Or winner is obviously the main attraction here.
Since joining Miami, Messi has scored 49 goals and provided 23 assists in just 59 matches. He’s joined by his buddies from his Barça days - Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets - who’ve provided 21 assists for him. The squad is also coached by ex-Barcelona man, Javier Mascherano. So, I expect some tiki-taka on display.
I’d love to back an Inter Miami win, especially with the game being played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. But they’ve been underwhelming lately. Yes, they’ve won their last two games, but overall, they’ve won just 3 of their last 10 games, letting in 26 goals without a single clean sheet.
My banker bet of the day is for Al Ahly to avoid defeat, but for Messi to still find the net. Using our Bet Builder feature, you can get the best odds for this with a chance to get over 4x your betting stake.
Betting Tips:
- Bet Builder: Al Ahly Win or Draw + Lionel Messi Anytime Scorer @4.33
- Inter Miami Under 2.5 Goals @1.20
Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City
I’m trying to keep it respectful here, but I see nothing but a bloodbath. Look, credit where it’s due, New Zealand’s Auckland City have done well for themselves over the years and even stunned the football world by getting a bronze at the 2014 Club World Cup. But let’s be real, they’re stepping into the lion’s den against a Bayern Munich side that doesn’t hold back when they sense weakness.
This is the same Bayern that smashed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 in the Champions League, with Harry Kane scoring five goals. That was on Matchday 1. Their blood too dey hot abeg. I expect a similar thrashing here, so I’m keeping it simple and leaning into the goal markets for this one.
Betting Tips:
PSG vs. Atletico Madrid
Fresh off a commanding 5-0 win over Inter in the Champions League final that saw them complete a historic treble, PSG comes into this tournament as one of the favorites to win it all. And if you thought that a treble win would satisfy their players, think again. Just this past Sunday, Vitinha, João Neves, and Nuno Mendes helped Portugal win the Nations League - Mendes was even named Man of the Match. The hunger in this squad is very much alive.
These two teams last faced off on UCL Matchday 4, where Atleti snatched a dramatic late win. PSG started strong with an early Warren Zaire-Emery opener, but Nahuel Molina hit back four minutes later. From that point on, it was all PSG.
They dominated possession (72%) and had 22 shot attempts compared to Atleti’s 4. But as we’ve come to expect, Diego Simeone’s classic haram-ball approach somehow paid off. Angel Correa coolly slotted in a last-gasp winner to silence the Parc des Princes.
I think the pattern stays the same here; PSG on the front foot, Atleti sitting deep and waiting for mistakes. That said, I don’t see lightning striking twice. PSG are a better side than they were in November, and I have them avoiding defeat.
Betting Tips:
Palmeiras vs. Porto
For the first time since the 70s, Porto have finished outside the top two in back-to-back Primeira Liga seasons, and it wasn’t even close. They were 8 points off two years ago and 9 points last season. So yeah, there’s been some noise around their dip, but a good showing in this tournament could help calm things down.
There are a few standout names in this Porto squad worth noting. Leading the line is Samu Aghehowa, who was the league’s second-highest scorer last season, with only Viktor Gyökeres having more. Sure, Gyökeres had 39 goals to Aghehowa’s 19, but second place is second place.
Then there’s Francisco Moura, their ultra-attacking left-back who had 10 league assists - only Trincão (14) had more. And don’t sleep on Rodrigo Mora, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder who had 10 goals last season despite starting just 16 games. He’s two-footed, fearless, and fun to watch.
On the other hand, Palmeiras won’t be easy. They’ve won 2 of the last 3 Brazilian Serie A titles and are just 2 points off the top again this season. They’ve got pedigree in this competition too; semi-finalists in 2020 and runners-up in 2021, narrowly losing to Chelsea in extra time.
I see this one being tighter than people expect, with goals from both sides.
Betting Tips:
Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders
Botafogo roll into this tournament as the reigning Brazilian Serie A and Copa Libertadores champions, carrying the hopes of Brazil - and maybe even all of South America - on their backs. Last season was nothing short of legendary for them.
They ended a 29-year league title drought and lifted their first-ever Copa Libertadores, beating Atletico Mineiro despite playing over 90 minutes with 10 men. Not long after that, though, Head Coach Artur Jorge stepped down to take a job with Al-Rayyan in Qatar.
They’re still settling in under new boss Renato Paiva, but I think they’ve got enough firepower to start this group stage with a win.
Talent-wise, they’re stacked. Igor Jesus, Cuiabano, and Jair Cunha - three players reportedly on Nottingham Forest’s radar - bring flair and youth, while experience comes in the form of Alex Telles (remember him from his Man United days?) and Gregore, the ex-Inter Miami midfielder who captained the team before Messi showed up.
As for the Seattle Sounders, they punched their ticket to this tourney by winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup three years ago. But since then, they’ve not been as impressive.
They’ve missed the last two editions of that tournament and haven’t gone past the MLS Western Conference semis. At the moment, they’re 6th in the West, having scored 25 goals and conceded 25. As the bet guru wey I be, I say go for a Botafogo win here.
Betting Tips:
Chelsea vs. LAFC
Reigning Europa Conference League champions, Chelsea are overwhelming favourites here, and it’s easy to see why. Enzo Maresca’s squad has been beefed up with some new signings: GK Mike Penders, centre-back Mamadou Sarr, midfielder Dario Essugo, and Liam Delap leading the line.
One thing about Chelsea is they don’t play with small teams in cup competitions. So, I expect this to be a routine win. In fact, our online sports betting folks can pencil in Over 1.5 goals for them.
As for LAFC, they made it here via a play-in win over Club America after FIFA disqualified Leon (for not meeting their multi-club ownership rules). LAFC has a few familiar names you’ll recognize; Cengiz Ünder, Hugo Lloris, and of course, Olivier Giroud, who knows Stamford Bridge pretty well from his FA Cup, Champions League, and Europa League-winning days.
They also just added Dutch forward Javairo Dilrosun on loan to sharpen their attack. He’s got 19 goals and 33 assists in his career and five trophies to his name. Respect, but let’s be serious here, this Chelsea squad has way too much quality for them.
Betting Tips:
Boca Juniors vs. Benfica
With Bayern expected to top the group, both Boca Juniors and Benfica will treat this as a must-win if they want to make the last sixteen. It’s also one of those matchups that shows off the continental mix the expanded tournament now allows.
Boca brings plenty of star power, including a quartet of ex-Manchester United players, including Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera, and the iconic Edinson Cavani.
Benfica, meanwhile, are coming off a rough end to their season that saw them finish second to Sporting CP in both the league and the Taça de Portugal. Still, they’ll back themselves to get a result here. I’m especially high on Vangelis Pavlidis, who was on fire last season with 29 goals, 7 of those coming in the Champions League.
With him leading the line, I honestly don’t see Benfica losing this one.
Betting Tips:
Flamengo vs. Espérance de Tunis
This Group D clash brings together two in-form teams tearing it up domestically. Flamengo booked their spot in this tournament by winning the 2022 Copa Libertadores, and they’re still in fine form. Currently on top of the Brazilian Serie A, they’ve scored 24 goals while conceding just 4 in 11 games.
On the other hand, Espérance de Tunis just wrapped up a domestic treble with a 1-0 win over Stade Tunisien in the Tunisian Cup final. They’re unbeaten in their last 11 games, with a rock-solid defense that’s kept 9 clean sheets during that run.
Still, Flamengo’s quality might be the difference here. They’ve got big names like Alex Sandro, Danilo, and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, who’s been tearing it up with 9 goals and 4 assists in 11 league games.
Add to that the recent signing of ex-Arsenal man Jorginho, and I’m leaning toward a win for the Brazilian side in what should be a tight but entertaining matchup.
Betting Tips:
BetKing offers you the chance to win big by betting on the FIFA Club World Cup.
Join us today to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami
This year’s FIFA Club World Cup kicks off with a headline-grabbing clash between Inter Miami and African heavyweights, Al Ahly. The Egyptian side are the kings of the CAF Champions League, having won it a record 12 times, including 4 in the last 6 years.
While Al Ahly haven’t lifted the Club World Cup trophy or even reached the final, they’ve won the bronze medal in 3 of the last 4 editions, so they definitely know their way around this competition.
Inter Miami’s place in the tournament raised eyebrows, as they didn’t exactly “earn” it the traditional way - it was handed to them. Still, no one’s complaining too loudly when Lionel Messi’s involved. The 8-time Ballon d’Or winner is obviously the main attraction here.
Since joining Miami, Messi has scored 49 goals and provided 23 assists in just 59 matches. He’s joined by his buddies from his Barça days - Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets - who’ve provided 21 assists for him. The squad is also coached by ex-Barcelona man, Javier Mascherano. So, I expect some tiki-taka on display.
I’d love to back an Inter Miami win, especially with the game being played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. But they’ve been underwhelming lately. Yes, they’ve won their last two games, but overall, they’ve won just 3 of their last 10 games, letting in 26 goals without a single clean sheet.
My banker bet of the day is for Al Ahly to avoid defeat, but for Messi to still find the net. Using our Bet Builder feature, you can get the best odds for this with a chance to get over 4x your betting stake.
Betting Tips:
- Bet Builder: Al Ahly Win or Draw + Lionel Messi Anytime Scorer @4.33
- Inter Miami Under 2.5 Goals @1.20
Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City
I’m trying to keep it respectful here, but I see nothing but a bloodbath. Look, credit where it’s due, New Zealand’s Auckland City have done well for themselves over the years and even stunned the football world by getting a bronze at the 2014 Club World Cup. But let’s be real, they’re stepping into the lion’s den against a Bayern Munich side that doesn’t hold back when they sense weakness.
This is the same Bayern that smashed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 in the Champions League, with Harry Kane scoring five goals. That was on Matchday 1. Their blood too dey hot abeg. I expect a similar thrashing here, so I’m keeping it simple and leaning into the goal markets for this one.
Betting Tips:
PSG vs. Atletico Madrid
Fresh off a commanding 5-0 win over Inter in the Champions League final that saw them complete a historic treble, PSG comes into this tournament as one of the favorites to win it all. And if you thought that a treble win would satisfy their players, think again. Just this past Sunday, Vitinha, João Neves, and Nuno Mendes helped Portugal win the Nations League - Mendes was even named Man of the Match. The hunger in this squad is very much alive.
These two teams last faced off on UCL Matchday 4, where Atleti snatched a dramatic late win. PSG started strong with an early Warren Zaire-Emery opener, but Nahuel Molina hit back four minutes later. From that point on, it was all PSG.
They dominated possession (72%) and had 22 shot attempts compared to Atleti’s 4. But as we’ve come to expect, Diego Simeone’s classic haram-ball approach somehow paid off. Angel Correa coolly slotted in a last-gasp winner to silence the Parc des Princes.
I think the pattern stays the same here; PSG on the front foot, Atleti sitting deep and waiting for mistakes. That said, I don’t see lightning striking twice. PSG are a better side than they were in November, and I have them avoiding defeat.
Betting Tips:
Palmeiras vs. Porto
For the first time since the 70s, Porto have finished outside the top two in back-to-back Primeira Liga seasons, and it wasn’t even close. They were 8 points off two years ago and 9 points last season. So yeah, there’s been some noise around their dip, but a good showing in this tournament could help calm things down.
There are a few standout names in this Porto squad worth noting. Leading the line is Samu Aghehowa, who was the league’s second-highest scorer last season, with only Viktor Gyökeres having more. Sure, Gyökeres had 39 goals to Aghehowa’s 19, but second place is second place.
Then there’s Francisco Moura, their ultra-attacking left-back who had 10 league assists - only Trincão (14) had more. And don’t sleep on Rodrigo Mora, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder who had 10 goals last season despite starting just 16 games. He’s two-footed, fearless, and fun to watch.
On the other hand, Palmeiras won’t be easy. They’ve won 2 of the last 3 Brazilian Serie A titles and are just 2 points off the top again this season. They’ve got pedigree in this competition too; semi-finalists in 2020 and runners-up in 2021, narrowly losing to Chelsea in extra time.
I see this one being tighter than people expect, with goals from both sides.
Betting Tips:
Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders
Botafogo roll into this tournament as the reigning Brazilian Serie A and Copa Libertadores champions, carrying the hopes of Brazil - and maybe even all of South America - on their backs. Last season was nothing short of legendary for them.
They ended a 29-year league title drought and lifted their first-ever Copa Libertadores, beating Atletico Mineiro despite playing over 90 minutes with 10 men. Not long after that, though, Head Coach Artur Jorge stepped down to take a job with Al-Rayyan in Qatar.
They’re still settling in under new boss Renato Paiva, but I think they’ve got enough firepower to start this group stage with a win.
Talent-wise, they’re stacked. Igor Jesus, Cuiabano, and Jair Cunha - three players reportedly on Nottingham Forest’s radar - bring flair and youth, while experience comes in the form of Alex Telles (remember him from his Man United days?) and Gregore, the ex-Inter Miami midfielder who captained the team before Messi showed up.
As for the Seattle Sounders, they punched their ticket to this tourney by winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup three years ago. But since then, they’ve not been as impressive.
They’ve missed the last two editions of that tournament and haven’t gone past the MLS Western Conference semis. At the moment, they’re 6th in the West, having scored 25 goals and conceded 25. As the bet guru wey I be, I say go for a Botafogo win here.
Betting Tips:
Chelsea vs. LAFC
Reigning Europa Conference League champions, Chelsea are overwhelming favourites here, and it’s easy to see why. Enzo Maresca’s squad has been beefed up with some new signings: GK Mike Penders, centre-back Mamadou Sarr, midfielder Dario Essugo, and Liam Delap leading the line.
One thing about Chelsea is they don’t play with small teams in cup competitions. So, I expect this to be a routine win. In fact, our online sports betting folks can pencil in Over 1.5 goals for them.
As for LAFC, they made it here via a play-in win over Club America after FIFA disqualified Leon (for not meeting their multi-club ownership rules). LAFC has a few familiar names you’ll recognize; Cengiz Ünder, Hugo Lloris, and of course, Olivier Giroud, who knows Stamford Bridge pretty well from his FA Cup, Champions League, and Europa League-winning days.
They also just added Dutch forward Javairo Dilrosun on loan to sharpen their attack. He’s got 19 goals and 33 assists in his career and five trophies to his name. Respect, but let’s be serious here, this Chelsea squad has way too much quality for them.
Betting Tips:
Boca Juniors vs. Benfica
With Bayern expected to top the group, both Boca Juniors and Benfica will treat this as a must-win if they want to make the last sixteen. It’s also one of those matchups that shows off the continental mix the expanded tournament now allows.
Boca brings plenty of star power, including a quartet of ex-Manchester United players, including Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera, and the iconic Edinson Cavani.
Benfica, meanwhile, are coming off a rough end to their season that saw them finish second to Sporting CP in both the league and the Taça de Portugal. Still, they’ll back themselves to get a result here. I’m especially high on Vangelis Pavlidis, who was on fire last season with 29 goals, 7 of those coming in the Champions League.
With him leading the line, I honestly don’t see Benfica losing this one.
Betting Tips:
Flamengo vs. Espérance de Tunis
This Group D clash brings together two in-form teams tearing it up domestically. Flamengo booked their spot in this tournament by winning the 2022 Copa Libertadores, and they’re still in fine form. Currently on top of the Brazilian Serie A, they’ve scored 24 goals while conceding just 4 in 11 games.
On the other hand, Espérance de Tunis just wrapped up a domestic treble with a 1-0 win over Stade Tunisien in the Tunisian Cup final. They’re unbeaten in their last 11 games, with a rock-solid defense that’s kept 9 clean sheets during that run.
Still, Flamengo’s quality might be the difference here. They’ve got big names like Alex Sandro, Danilo, and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, who’s been tearing it up with 9 goals and 4 assists in 11 league games.
Add to that the recent signing of ex-Arsenal man Jorginho, and I’m leaning toward a win for the Brazilian side in what should be a tight but entertaining matchup.
Betting Tips:
BetKing offers you the chance to win big by betting on the FIFA Club World Cup.
Join us today to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.