Club World Cup Team Betting Predictions: CF Pachuca

One of Mexico's two representatives at the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup, CF Pachuca have been drawn in Group H with the competition's favourite, Spanish giants Real Madrid, as well as Al Hilal and Salzburg. Los Blancos look destined to top the group, but can the Liga MX side edge out the Saudis and Austrians to finish second and secure a spot in the last 16?

Below are my CF Pachuca Fifa Club World Cup 2025 predictions, as I rate their chances of reaching the knockout stage and pick out a former Premier League striker as their player to watch.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, CF Pachuca, Salzburg

Fixtures: CF Pachuca vs Salzburg (23:00 BST, June 18), Real Madrid vs CF Pachuca (20:00 BST, June 22), Al Hilal vs CF Pachuca (02:00 BST, June 27)

Player to watch: Salomon Rondon

Pachuca's success in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final last June qualified Tuzos for the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup, but the last 12 months haven't been particularly kind to them.

They finished third from bottom in the Apertura before ending the calendar year with a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Fifa Intercontinental Cup final, and while that result in itself wasn't unexpected, their eighth-place finish in the Clausura, before a quarter-final exit in the play-offs to Club America, wasn't a great look.

Uruguayan manager Guillermo Almada, who had implemented a high-intensity press in his three-year spell at Pachuca, setting the side up in a 4-3-3 formation, resigned from his post following that defeat to Club America, and so the seven-time Liga MX champions were forced to find a new head coach.

Club World Cup 2025 Odds

At the end of last month, former Mexico national team boss Jaime Lozano, who failed to guide El Tri past the group stage of the 2024 Copa America, was appointed as Almada's successor. His task is to forge an instant connection with his players and get them back on track following a run of just one win in five games.

He's not helped by one of his opponents in Group H being European powerhouses Real Madrid, who will be desperate to win the tournament after their failures in La Liga and the Uefa Champions League. Xabi Alonso's side, bolstered by the additions of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, are expected to sweep all before them in the group stage before facing the runners-up of Group G in the last 16.

Second place in Group H is less clear cut, although according to Betfred, it's Al Hilal (1/1) who will advance alongside Real Madrid (1/33), with Salzburg (11/8) considered third most likely to qualify ahead of Pachuca (10/3).

Given the finances of Real Madrid and Al Hilal, in particular, it's no surprise to see Pachuca, who haven't impressed in Mexico this calendar year, pushed out to fourth in the betting, but they shouldn't be completely written off.

Player to watch: Salomon Rondon

Former West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United and Everton striker Salomon Rondon is the main man at Pachuca, having collected the Golden Boot for his nine goals in seven games during their 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup title run.

The 35-year-old has scored 36 goals in 67 appearances since his move in January last year, and he arrives at the tournament having been responsible for five of Pachuca's last nine efforts.

Rondon hasn't just been in form for his club, though, with the 6ft2in forward netting five times in 15 World Cup qualifiers for Venezuela as La Vinotinto attempt to qualify for next year's showpiece event in North America. He was on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory over Bolivia on June 6, but he's no flat-track bully, also notching against Argentina in October 2024.

Moroccan forward Oussama Idrissi and Brazilian attacker John Kennedy will play important roles for Pachuca, but their success is likely to rely on whether Rondon can get himself near the goal and convert any opportunities that come his way.

Football Odds

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Prediction: Third in Group H

I see Real Madrid and Al Hilal being far too strong for Pachuca, who are having to adjust to the demands of a new manager.

However, they have more than enough to pose problems for Salzburg, who have suffered their own issues in the past year. The savviness of players like Rondon may just be enough to secure them third spot ahead of the Austrians.

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