It wasn’t the fairytale ending they were hoping for, but for Mamelodi Sundowns and their coach Miguel Cardoso, the 2025 Club World Cup was far from a failure.
After finishing third in a fiercely competitive Group F, the South African champions are heading home—not with medals, but with pride, confidence, and global recognition.
Holding Their Own on the Global Stage
In their final group game in Miami, Sundowns held Brazilian giants Fluminense to a goalless draw.
While that point wasn’t enough to push them into the knockout stage, it summed up their resilience and fighting spirit.
“We’re not walking away empty-handed,” Cardoso said after the match.
“Some teams came here and left with nothing.
We leave with four points, one win, one draw, and just one loss—and in that draw, we created the best chances.”
Just One Point Short
The group standings were tight. Sundowns’ four points were just one behind Fluminense and three behind group winners Borussia Dortmund.
The narrow gap made the elimination sting a bit more, but Cardoso encouraged fans to put things into perspective.
“For those unfamiliar with international football, go take a look at who we were up against—Fluminense, Dortmund, Ulsan,” he said.
“Then you’ll understand how high the level was and how well we performed.”
A Global Statement From Pretoria
Despite the exit, Cardoso believes the tournament showcased what Sundowns are truly about.
“We may have a name that sounds odd to some, but our talent and ambition are real,” he said.
“We’ve been playing great football for years, and now the whole world got a taste of that.”
He continued, “Football is about emotions.
People want to go home after a match feeling something—and we gave them that. That’s something to be proud of.”
Disappointment, But Not Defeat
Although they fell short of their objective to reach the next round, the coach had nothing but praise for his players.
“Of course we’re not happy—we came with a clear goal. But I’m incredibly proud of my squad.
We return home stronger than when we arrived.”
From CAF Setback to Global Showcase
Sundowns earned their place at the Club World Cup thanks to their dominant performances in African competitions over the past four years.
But they entered the tournament still dealing with the sting of a recent CAF Champions League final defeat to Egypt’s Pyramids.
Still, Cardoso sees the bigger picture. “We made it to the Champions League final for the first time since 2016 and secured our eighth consecutive league title at home,” he said.
“In just eight months with this team, I’ve seen something special.”
Giving Everything on the Pitch
Cardoso admitted these kinds of tournaments are unpredictable.
“Sometimes, you play brilliantly and leave with nothing,” he said.
“But we competed right up to the final whistle.”
Was it enough to bring home a trophy? No. But was it enough to earn respect? Absolutely. “Will we sleep peacefully tonight?” he asked.
“Yes. Because the job was done, and we earned the world’s recognition.”