HOOLIGAN SOCCER

Club World Cup Monterrey Group E

Club World Cup Preview: Monterrey

Above: Monterrey supporters cheer on their team at a CONCACAF Champions League game from 2024.

Josep Packsten

The eighteenth in our continuing series highlighting all thirty-two clubs in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. The event starts on Saturday, June 14th.

Club Background

  • From: Monterrey, Mexico
  • How They Qualified:
    • They won the CONCACAF Champions League in 2021.
  • Best CWC Finish:
    • This is their sixth appearance. In 2012 and 2019 they placed third.
  • Recent Form:
    • Eliminated from CONCACAF Champions Cup by Vancouver after a stoppage time goal from Tristan Blackmon.
    • Finished in 7th place in the LigaMX CLausura.
    • Finished in 5th place in the LigaMX Apertura.
  • Facts: 
    • Founded in 1945.
    • Their traditional striped navy & white kits inspired the nickname: Los Rayados (The Striped Ones). 
    • Their local rival in the state of Nuevo Léon is Tigres UANL, against whom they contest the Clásico Regiomontano derby.
    • 69% of the team are from Mexico, the remainder are from Argentina (3), Spain (3) and Colombia (2).

The Team

  • Manager: Domènec Torrent
    • He was hired on May 21 to replace Martín Demichelis.
  • Star Players:
    • Sergio Canales
      • Spanish midfielder & former Real Betis star. 8g/7a in 19 games.
    • Germán Berterame
      • Mexican forward, 26 years old, with 12g/1a in 20 games.
    • Sergio Ramos
      • Yes, that one. 39 year old Spanish defender. Team captain.
  • Young Players:
    • There are only four players under 22 on the roster.
    • The only one who’s logged significant playing time is Iker Fimbres (20 year-old midfielder. 2g/2a in 20 games).
  • Training Sites:
    • Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California

When to Watch

  • 9:00pm ET on Jun 17, 2025 vs. Inter Milan @ Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
  • 9:00pm ET on Jun 21, 2025 vs. vs. River Plate @ Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
  • 9:00pm ET on Jun 25, 2025 vs. Urawa Red Diamonds @ Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

The Hooligan Take

Monterrey is the only team that will play all three of their fixtures in the same venue: the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. Whether this will give them a home field advantage remains to be seen, but not traveling between games certainly won’t hurt them. In terms of competition, their second game against River Plate will make or break their chances of advancement.

Other Group E Teams

  • Inter Milan (UEFA/Italy)
  • River Plate (CONMEBOL/Argentina)
  • Urawa Red Diamonds (AFC/Japan)
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