Ulsan HD and Urawa Red Diamonds concluded their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaigns on a sour note, both suffering their third consecutive defeats on June 25 and bowing out of the tournament without registering a single point.
At Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium, Ulsan put up a spirited fight in a narrow 1–0 loss to German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund. Despite being under pressure for large spells, the K League champions displayed admirable resilience, with goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo delivering a standout performance to keep the scoreline respectable.
With only 8000 people in attendance, Dortmund broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. Rising star Jobe Bellingham threaded a clever pass to Swedish full-back Daniel Svensson, who smashed home the winner past Jo. The Bundesliga side had several chances to extend their lead, but Jo’s heroics in goal kept Ulsan competitive until the final whistle.
Elsewhere, Fluminense’s goalless draw with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns sealed both their and Dortmund’s progression to the round of 16, with the Germans advancing as group winners.
Meanwhile, at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, Urawa Red Diamonds endured a humbling 4–0 defeat at the hands of Monterrey, who booked their place in the knockouts with a dominant display.
Despite a promising start from the J.League side—who squandered a couple of early chances—Monterrey shifted gears in devastating fashion. Nelson Deossa opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a thunderous 30-yard strike. Just four minutes later, Germán Berterame doubled the lead with a clinical finish before Jesús “Tecatito” Corona added a third in the 39th minute with another spectacular long-range effort.
Thiago Santana appeared to have pulled one back for Urawa late in the game, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. Berterame then returned in stoppage time to complete the rout with his second of the night.
Monterrey’s win, combined with River Plate’s 2–0 loss to Inter Milan in a heated clash, confirmed the Mexican side’s advancement to the knockouts alongside the Italian giants.
While both Ulsan and Urawa exit the tournament empty-handed, Ulsan can take solace in their defensive grit against elite opposition. For Urawa, however, it’s a result that underlines the growing gulf between Asia’s elite and the global heavyweights.