Fluminense vs Ulsan HD Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Group Stage
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Fluminense began their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage campaign steadily as they now prepare to take on what appears to be a fairly average Ulsan Hyundai side.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN & Channel 5 / US – DAZN
Fluminense team news: Fully fit
Ahead of their clash with Ulsan, Fluminense have a fully fit and available squad so the Brazilians will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one, especially after a good performance and result the other day.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Fabio; Xavier, Silva, Freytes, Rene; Nonato, Hercules, Matheus Martinelli; Jhon Arias, Everaldo, Canobbio
Unavailable:
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Ulsan HD team news: Experienced but leggy
In the heat of an American summer, an experienced and ageing Ulsan squad, that features former Bolton Wanderers man Lee Chung-yong, did appear leggy the other night and that could lead to some rotation.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Cho; Seo, Trojak, Kim; Um, Jung, Bojanic, Ludwigson; Ko, Farias, Lee
Unavailable:
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Key stats
- This is Fluminense’s first FIFA club competition match against an Asian team and it is Ulsan’s first against a South American opponent.
- The only previous FIFA club competition match between teams from Brazil and Korea Republic was in the match for third place in the competition now known as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ in December 2010 when SC Internacional (BRA) defeated Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 4-2.
- Fluminense have won five and drawn two of their last seven matches in all competitions.
- Fluminense have not conceded a goal in their last three competitive matches.
- Ulsan are aiming for their first positive result in a FIFA club competition fixture having lost their previous five encounters in global showpiece tournaments.
- Against Dortmund, Fluminense fielded the two oldest players at the FIFA Club World Cup in their starting XI. Goalkeeper Fabio (44y 260d) and defender Thiago Silva (40y 268d).
- Ulsan have two Brazilian players in their squad, midfielder Erick Farias and forward Yago Cariello, who was born in Rio de Janeiro, where Fluminense are based.
- Fluminense skipper Thiago Silva played in Brazil’s 4-1 win against Korea Republic in the 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16, setting up the Seleção’s third goal. Ulsan’s Kim Young-gwon and Jung Woo-young were in the opposition starting XI.
- Ulsan defender Yoon Jong-gyu is one of five players in the 32 rosters to have participated in at least one FIFA World Cup, FIFA Under-20 World Cup and a FIFA Under-17 World Cup previously; along with Koke (Atlético), Hector Moreno (Monterrey), Oscar Ustari (Inter Miami) and Timothy Weah (Juventus).
Fluminense vs Ulsan HD prediction
Fluminense headed into the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on the back of a six-match unbeaten run of form across all competitions and that was extended to seven games with a respectable goalless draw against Borussia Dortmund at the MetLife Stadium in scorching conditions in New Jersey the other day.
They now face an Ulsan Hyundai side that began their campaign with a slender 1-0 loss to the dominant force of South African football, the Mamelodi Sundowns, due to a strike scored by Iqraam Rayners in the first-half. They have now managed just one victory in their last five matches across all competitions.
Fluminense will fancy their chances of perhaps even topping their group and they will expect to earn themselves a comfortable victory back in New Jersey.
Fluminense vs Ulsan HD tip: Fluminense to win to nil
