Atletico Madrid Suffer Historic Exit from FIFA Club World Cup

Atletico Madrid have been eliminated from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the group stage, marking the earliest exit for a European side in this year’s competition.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Atletico Madrid went into their final Group B match needing a win against Botafogo and a favorable result to progress. Despite securing a 1-0 victory over the Brazilian side, the result was not enough to qualify. A heavy 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the opening match and a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders left Atletico tied at six points with PSG and Botafogo. With three teams level, tournament rules dictated that head-to-head points, goal difference, and goals scored would break the tie. Atletico’s poor goal difference from the defeat to PSG proved costly, sending them out as PSG and Botafogo advanced to the next round. The Seattle Sounders also exited the tournament after losing 2-0 to PSG on the final day.

GROUP B STANDINGS EXPLAINED

Group B finished dramatically, with PSG, Botafogo, and Atletico Madrid all accumulating six points. PSG emerged as group leaders following their convincing wins, while Botafogo’s earlier victories–including a 1-0 triumph against PSG–secured their progression despite the final loss. Head-to-head results and goal difference decided the standings, highlighting the importance of every match in the expanded 2025 format. Atletico’s campaign was ultimately undone by their opening defeat to PSG, making them the first European club to fall at this early stage in the tournament.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ATLETICO MADRID?

Atletico Madrid will return home and focus on preparing for the upcoming La Liga season and other domestic competitions. The team will need to analyze what went wrong and regroup after failing to meet expectations on the global stage. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain and Botafogo move on to the knockout rounds, with PSG aiming to build on their group stage momentum. Atletico will now look to strengthen their squad and bounce back, while rivals watch closely to see if other European sides face similar risks as the Club World Cup continues.