Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Group Stage

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Botafogo head into the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup as a part of the John Textor multi-club ownership model with the chaotic Brazilians taking on the Seattle Sounders in Seattle.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN & Channel 5 / US – DAZN

Botafogo team news: Cuiabano doubtful

Wide player Cuiabano is doubtful heading into the opening round of group stage fixtures, which may lead to Botafogo fielding two forwards with Artur and Savarino starting as wingers. Whether it be as a lone striker, or part of a front two, Igor Jesus will have a big role to play up top.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): John; Vitinha, Jair, Ricardo, Telles; Artur, Freitas, Gregore, Savarino; Jesus, Cruz

Unavailable: 

Questionable: Cuiabano (Injured)

Seattle Sounders team news: Schmetzer waits on Morris

Whilst striker Jordan Morris has resumed full training with the first team, he is yet to make his return to competitive action, so it remains to be seen if he'll play a part in this first group match. Fellow forward Paul Arriola will definitely miss out against Botafogo through injury.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Bell; Kossa-Rienzi, Ragen, Bell, Tolo; C. Roldan, Vargas; de la Vega, Rusnak, Rothrock; Ferreira

Unavailable: Arriola (Injured)

Questionable: Morris (Fitness)

Key stats

• Botafogo claimed their spot at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 when they overcame Atletico Mineiro in an all-Brazilian final of the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores on 30 November. They were competing in the final of the competition for the first time in the club’s illustrious history, and became the 12th different Brazilian team to win the showpiece tournament.
• Botafogo added to their 2024 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores success in December 2024 when they won their first Brazilian championship since 1995, clinching the title with a 2-1 victory against São Paulo on the final day of the season.
• Botafogo’s quest for a second successive CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores title in 2025 is still alive. They recovered from losing two of their first three fixtures in the group stage by winning their next three, securing qualification for the round of 16 with a crucial 2-1 victory against Universidad de Chile in a must-win final group match.
• Some of the famous Botafogo players who have made their mark on the global stage are the Garrincha, Jairzinho, Didi, Mario Zagallo, Amarildo, Caju, Roberto Miranda and Nilton Santos – all winners of the FIFA World Cup™.
• Prior to winning the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores in 2024, Botafogo defender Alex Telles was a UEFA Europa League winner with Sevilla in 2023.
• Botafogo’s Venezuelan midfielder Jefferson Savarino made over 140 appearances and scored 40 goals for MLS side Real Salt Lake (2017-2019 and 2022-2023), and he featured 11 times and scored two goals in all competitions against Seattle Sounders during his time at the club.
• Seattle Sounders earned their place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ due to their success in winning the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup. The triumph against Mexican side Pumas saw them become the first team from the USA to be crowned Concacaf champions in 22 years. In the final, they fought back from a 2-0 deficit to claim a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Mexico, before goals from two goals from Raul Ruidiaz and one from Nicolas Lodeiro secured a 3-0 victory in the second leg and a 5-2 win on aggregate.
• Seattle’s Brazilian midfielder João Paulo had three seasons as a Botafogo player (2017-2019) before joining the MLS side, initially on loan, in January 2020.
• Seattle-born Sounders’ striker, Jordan Morris, was a member of the USA squad at the FIFA World Cup™ in 2022.
• Botafogo’s Mateo Ponte won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2023 with Uruguay. He was on the winning side against Seattle’s Obed Vargas when Uruguay defeated the USA 2-0 in the quarter-finals (*Vargas now represents Mexico).
• Botafogo’s Brazilian midfielder Allan was a FIFA U-20 World Cup winner in 2011. He featured in Brazil’s 3-2 extra-time victory against Portugal in the final.
• Seattle’s Nouhou Tolo was on the winning side against Botafogo’s Alex Telles when Cameroon defeated Brazil 1-0 in the group stage at the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders prediction

Botafogo have experienced the chaos and controversy of Textor in all its fullest in the last few seasons. They currently sit in the middle-of-the-table in the 2025 Brazilian Serie A campaign, but did squeeze through to the knockout stages of the 2025 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores last month, finishing second behind Estudiantes on goal difference in Group A.

The Seattle Sounders have qualified for the tournament as 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners. The Sounders have often been towards the top end of the Western Conference, winning the division on four occasions since 2016 but all four of those victories came in a five-year span before 2020.

Botafogo are unpredictable to watch and Seattle will bring an entertaining, high intensity MLS energy to the competition, especially with home advantage, so both teams scoring seems a good bet.

Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders tip: Both teams to score