River Plate are gearing up for a landmark appearance at the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, which is set to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025.
The Argentine heavyweights earned their spot in the revamped competition as the highest-ranked eligible team from South America based on CONMEBOL's four-year ranking system.

This newly structured edition of the Club World Cup will follow a format similar to that of the FIFA World Cup, starting with a group stage followed by a series of knockout rounds. River Plate have been placed in Group E, where they will face elite clubs from Europe, North America, and Asia, setting the stage for intense and high-quality matchups.
This marks River's third appearance at the global club tournament, and they arrive with a strong, well-rounded squad brimming with domestic talent and international experience. Known for their rich footballing history and success in continental competitions, the Buenos Aires-based club will look to channel that pedigree on the world stage.
With a solid blend of seasoned professionals and promising youngsters, River Plate will aim to make a deep run in the tournament. Their ambition is clear: challenge the best, rise above expectations, and potentially return to Argentina as world champions. As one of South America's premier representatives, all eyes will be on them when they take the field in few days time. River Plate have been drawn into Group E for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where they'll face a challenging set of opponents in Inter Milan, Urawa Red Diamonds, and Monterrey. The group promises intense battles, featuring top-tier clubs from Europe, Asia, and North America.
Inter Milan (Italy): A powerhouse in Italian and European football, Inter head into the tournament as one of the most formidable sides. They secured qualification as the fourth-highest ranked UEFA team over the last four years and recently finished as runners-up in the UEFA Champions League. This will be their second appearance at the Club World Cup, and they'll look to go one better this time with their experienced, high-calibre squad.
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan): Representing Asia, Urawa Red Diamonds earned their place by clinching the 2022 AFC Champions League title. A club steeped in tradition, Urawa is no stranger to the Club World Cup stage, having competed in three previous editions. Known for their disciplined approach and strong domestic following, the Japanese outfit will be eager to make a deeper impact this time around.
Monterrey (Mexico): The North American challenge in Group E comes from Monterrey, one of the most successful clubs in Mexican football history. They qualified as the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League winners and bring with them a wealth of experience in this tournament, having featured in five prior editions. Monterrey's blend of tactical solidity and attacking flair makes them a dangerous opponent on any day.
River Plate's debut appearance came in the 2015 edition held in Japan. After lifting the Copa Libertadores earlier that year, they entered the Club World Cup as CONMEBOL's representative and advanced directly to the semifinals.
Semifinal: River defeated Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0, with Lucas Alario scoring the winner.
Final: In the summit clash, River came up against a star-studded FC Barcelona side led by Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Neymar. Despite their spirited efforts, River were overpowered 3-0, with Suárez netting twice.
River returned to the Club World Cup in 2018 after a historic Copa Libertadores win over arch-rivals Boca Juniors. Expectations were sky-high, but the tournament in the UAE didn't go as planned.
Semifinal: In a shock result, River Plate were stunned by Al Ain FC of the UAE. The match ended 2-2 after extra time, and River lost 5-4 on penalties.
Third-Place Match: They faced Kashima Antlers in the playoff, where they thrashed the Japanese side by 4-0 to finish 3rd.
| Date | Opponent | Match No. | Venue | Time (PDT) | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2025 | Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) | Match 10 | Lumen Field, Seattle | 12:00 pm | 12:30 am (June 18) |
| June 21, 2025 | Monterrey (Mexico) | Match 28 | Rose Bowl, Pasadena | 6:00 pm | 6:30 am (June 22) |
| June 25, 2025 | Inter Milan (Italy) | Match 43 | Lumen Field, Seattle | 6:00 pm | 6:30 am (June 26) |
Note: All times are subject to confirmation. IST - Indian Standard Time; PDT - Pacific Time in USA
Franco Armani, Jeremías Ledesma, Lucas Lavagnino, Santiago Beltrán, Federico Gattoni, Gonzalo Montiel, Germán Pezzella, Leandro González Pirez, Fabricio Bustos, Paulo Díaz (CHI), Milton Casco, Marcos Acuña, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Lautaro Rivero, Matías Kranevitter, Matías Rojas (PAR), Maximiliano Meza, Manuel Lanzini, Gonzalo Martínez, Kevin Castaño (COL), Enzo Pérez, Ignacio Fernández, Rodrigo Aliendro, Franco Mastantuono, Santiago Simón, Giuliano Galoppo, Santiago Lencina, Giorgio Costantini (BRA), Miguel Borja (COL), Facundo Colidio, Sebastián Driussi, Gonzalo Tapia (CHI), Ian Subiabre, Juan Bautista Dadín.