Club World Cup Team Betting Predictions: CF Monterrey

According to Betfred's outright odds, only three sides are less likely to win the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup than Mexican outfit CF Monterrey (250/1), who have been drawn in Group E alongside Inter Milan, River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds.

Below are my CF Monterrey Fifa Club World Cup 2025 predictions, as I weigh up their chances of upsetting the odds and reaching the knockout stage.

Group E: Inter Milan, River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, CF Monterrey

Fixtures: CF Monterrey vs Inter Milan (02:00 BST, June 18), River Plate vs CF Monterrey (02:00 BST, June 22), Urawa Red Diamonds vs CF Monterrey (02:00 BST, June 26)

Player to watch: Sergio Ramos

Monterrey qualified for the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup by winning the 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup, defeating fellow Mexican side Club America in the final.

However, that was Rayados' last trophy, with their last domestic success coming in the Copa MX final in 2020.

They reached the Liga MX Apertura final last December, but lost to Club America 3-2 on aggregate, and were knocked out of the Clausura at the quarter-final stage last month by Toluca, while Vancouver Whitecaps beat them 2-1 twice in the space of a week in the last 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup in March.

Club World Cup 2025 Odds

Following their Clausura exit in May, Monterrey appointed Pep Guardiola's former assistant at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Domenec Torrent, as their new head coach, and the Spaniard's first mission will be to plot a way to the last 16 of the Club World Cup in America.

That's easier said than done, as the Liga MX side are underdogs in Group E, with Inter Milan, River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds all fancied to finish ahead of them.

Given the recent change in the dugout, it's difficult to predict how Monterrey will play over in the States, and whether that's likely to be better or worse for their chances of progression.

Torrent has plenty of experienced players in his ranks, notably Sergio Ramos, Sergio Canales, Lucas Ocampos and Oliver Torres, all of whom enjoyed successful careers in Europe, none more so than former Real Madrid and Spain captain Ramos.

However, the 39-year-old hasn't played since April 21, missing Monterrey's last four matches with an injury, while Ocampos hasn't scored this calendar year, and there is a lack of players at the peak of their powers, so the feeling is they could get overrun in the USA.

Player to watch: Sergio Ramos

I know what I've just said about Ramos and his fitness, but he's as 'clutch' as they come, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him turn up at the Club World Cup and play all three group games, scoring a goal or two and making some crucial interceptions in his own penalty box.

The veteran defender made the move to Mexico earlier this year after eight months in the wilderness following his exit from Sevilla at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. He debuted on February 23 in a 3-1 victory over Atletico San Luis, and eight days later, he scored his first goal in a 4-2 win against Santos Laguna.

Ramos made it three consecutive games with a goal when scoring in draws against Cruz Azul and Vancouver Whitecaps before his momentum was stopped with a red card against UNAM.

Still, he returned a couple of weeks later against Guadalajara, and the game after, he was back on the scoresheet against Tigres, making it four goals in his first seven appearances.

Should he be passed fit, Ramos will be vital at both ends for Monterrey, and his contributions in defence and attack will be crucial if Rayados are to make it past the group stage.

Football Odds

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Prediction: Third in Group E

While I think Monterrey can beat Urawa Red Diamonds and avoid a bottom-place finish, I'm not convinced they have the technical quality or physical capacity to compete with Inter Milan or River Plate, who, in my opinion, will rank first and second, respectively.

Torrent's side are still getting used to his demands and are likely to experience teething problems in the USA, so third spot is probably as good as they can expect, although the 7/2 on them to qualify may be worth some loose change if you fancy Ramos to produce something spectacular, as he has done in the past at crucial moments.

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