Heartfelt embraces were seen across the ground. High-fives and fist bumps were exchanged with beaming smiles. The players and staff serenaded the crowd at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles following another successful Rayados outing.
CF Monterrey put on a show to beat Urawa Red Diamonds 4–0 and finish second in Group E at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, setting up a last-16 bout with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday in Atlanta. However, the celebrations were far from over the top, and felt indicative of a team hell-bent on enjoying a longer journey.
“It was definitely the result we wanted, coming away with these points and qualifying,” Jesus Corona told FIFA after the match. “We’re really fired up to be in this tournament and you know we dream big because Rayados know what it takes to play in these competitions.”
Monterrey faced a difficult challenge in Group E, off the back of a season that had not gone entirely their way. They finished seventh in the league and were knocked out in the play-off quarter-finals. This prompted the departure of Argentinian coach Martin Demichelis and saw them appoint Spaniard Domenec Torrent at the end of May.
Spearheaded by Sergio Ramos, and featuring top players such as Esteban Andrada, Sergio Canales, Corona and Lucas Ocampos, Monterrey always set the bar high. However, the Club World Cup was shaping up to be a daunting task, with their group composed of UEFA Champions League runners-up FC Internazionale Milano, CA River Plate – one of the most powerful teams in South America – and the added threat of Urawa Reds to complicate matters further.
Despite their situation, the Mexican side, who qualified for the tournament by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, began the competition determined to reach the second round.
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“We have a strong team, everyone gets stuck in, and we believe we can go far,” Monterrey defender Luis Reyes said. “You can see how the team has quickly got to grips with the coach’s playing philosophy, and now we’re working hard to keep improving.”
One of the key moments of Monterrey’s success so far came in their opening game. They put on a shrewd, disciplined display against Inter at the Rose Bowl. A trademark Sergio Ramos header opened the scoring and, despite Lautaro Martinez’s equaliser, they departed the happier of the two sides. They followed up that display with another draw against River to ensure they entered the final matchday with something to play for.
Against an already-eliminated Urawa Reds, Rayados showed their true colours in front of goal. While Torrent decided against including Canales or Ocampos, the side still produced flowing football, particularly with Corona pulling the strings and Jose Alvarado providing moments of magic.
Wondergoals by Nelson Deossa and Corona either side of a German Berterame strike put Monterrey in complete control, with Berterame adding another in second-half stoppage time.
It’s little wonder why Monterrey have such high standards. Their skipper, after all, has won practically everything there is to win in the sport, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, and he’s keen to see this run of form continue.
“At the end of the day, this is a huge step for us,” he told DAZN post match. “You could tell people were on edge and didn’t think we’d make it through, but it was a strong performance and a momentous occasion for our club.
“The whole team have put in a tremendous amount of work, which has taken its toll in previous matches. We’re over the moon to reach the Round of 16. We’re proud to be part of this new project, and it’s a bonus to have the chance to give our all at the Club World Cup”.
