🟢 Palmeiras
Club World Cup team hub
Brasileirão's defensive machine meets global chaos
Palmeiras conceded just 31 goals in 38 league games last season – the stingiest defense in Brazil. Abel Ferreira drills a 4-2-3-1 that morphs into a 4-4-2 block, with Weverton’s sweeping and Gustavo Gómez’s aggression as anchors. But the Club World Cup’s abrupt format demands flexibility their domestic grind rarely requires. In 2021, Al Ahly exploited their slow defensive shifts in transition. This time, Piquerez’s overlapping runs and Raphael Veiga’s late arrivals must unlock deep blocks without leaving Gómez exposed.
The Endrick paradox
Palmeiras’ teenage phenomenon has 11 league goals in 2023 but zero in the Libertadores knockout stages. His €60m Real Madrid move looms, yet Ferreira often benches him in big games for Rony’s work rate. Against European or Asian opponents likely to dominate possession, Endrick’s explosive carries could be decisive – or a defensive liability. The Club World Cup forces Ferreira’s hand: stick with the kid or revert to Flaco López’s target play.
São Paulo’s ghosts linger
No Brazilian club has won the Club World Cup since Corinthians in 2012. Palmeiras’ 2021 third-place finish included a toothless semifinal loss to Chelsea where they managed one shot on target. Their group stage opponent – likely Al Ahly or Urawa Reds – will target defensive midfielder Richard Ríos’ positional lapses. The Allianz Parque fortress mentality travels poorly: they’ve won just two of their last nine continental away games.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Saint-GermainQualifies (1st) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Palmeiras | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Porto | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Bayern MunichEliminated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Match | Date | Group | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayern Munich vs PalmeirasEstadio Philadelphia | Thu, Jun 19, 2025 · 17:00 ET | b | – | Scheduled |
| Paris Saint-Germain vs PalmeirasEstadio Philadelphia | Sat, Jun 21, 2025 · 14:00 ET | b | – | Scheduled |
| Palmeiras vs PortoEstadio Philadelphia | Mon, Jun 23, 2025 · 20:00 ET | b | – | Scheduled |
Frequently asked questions
When did Palmeiras last win the Club World Cup?+
Never. Their best finish was third place in 2021 after losing to Chelsea in the semifinals.
How many Brazilians are in Palmeiras' starting XI?+
Typically 8-9. Only Paraguayan Gustavo Gómez and Uruguayan Piquerez regularly start among foreigners.
What’s Palmeiras’ biggest weakness in this format?+
Transition defense. Their compact Brasileirão shape struggles when stretched by direct runners – Monterrey exploited this in the 2019 Club World Cup.
Who’s their most dangerous player?+
Raphael Veiga. The attacking midfielder has 12 goals and 7 assists in 2023, with a knack for late runs into the box.