Ulsan HD will clash with Fluminense (Brazil).

Ulsan will play Fluminense in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group F second match on the 22nd at 7 a.m. (Korea time) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.

Ulsan faced variables from their first match. They were supposed to kick off against Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) at 8:05 a.m., delayed by 1 hour and 5 minutes due to a 'weather delay' from lightning. The players spent their time in the locker room preparing for the match. Despite the adverse conditions, they lost 0-1. As a result, Ulsan recorded the bottom position in the group, following Mamelodi (3 points), Fluminense, and Borussia Dortmund (1 point each).

Ulsan utilized a three-back formation against the South African champions, Mamelodi. They actively used the two wing-backs, Rubikson (left) and Eom Won-sang (right), to create meticulous and fast counterattacks, but failed to capitalize on several decisive opportunities. They couldn't recover from the goal conceded to the opponent's star forward, Reyners, in the 36th minute.

Manager Kim Pan-gon noted, "Our goal is to advance to the Round of 16, and this match was a decisive point. We needed a victory. We did our best but couldn't achieve the result. Fluminense and Dortmund have stronger rosters. Still, I am proud of the players. We will recover well and prepare organizationally. "

Mamelodi's coach, Miguel Cardoso, said at the official press conference after the match regarding the 'weather delay', "There were both positive and negative aspects. The positive aspect was that we had time to prepare for the opponent's lineup." He added, "Ulsan came out with a three-back instead of their usual four-back, which created difficulties. I was a bit surprised. We adjusted adequately during the delay and prepared accordingly."

Ulsan's prepared strategy somewhat unsettled the opponent. If it hadn't been for the bad weather, the match could have had a different outcome. However, Ulsan sadly missed the result, and now they must shake it off and prepare thoroughly for Fluminense.

Fluminense is considered one of the strong contenders for the championship in this tournament. They rose to the top of South America by defeating Argentina's prestigious Boca Juniors 2-1 in the 2023 Copa Libertadores. They not only claimed their first major continental tournament title in club history but also secured a berth in the Club World Cup.

Tiago Silva, who dominated leagues around the world, stands out significantly. Silva has served as a key defender for the Brazil national team for years, including time at AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. He led the team with solid defense against Dortmund on the 18th.

Silva had an interview with FIFA ahead of the Club World Cup.

FIFA highlighted, "An interesting point is that Ulsan HD, which has won the K League 1 championship for three consecutive years, is the group stage opponent of Fluminense in the Club World Cup. Silva's team will face Dortmund, Ulsan, and Mamelodi in succession."

Silva humbly stated, "I know it is hard to win," and added, "Our goal is singular. It is to make Fluminense proud. That is our goal. No matter if we face Dortmund, PSG, Chelsea, this goal remains unchanged. We will show a good performance against anyone. Every player wants to win in every tournament they participate in. However, this mindset is the same for the 31 other teams as well."

In addition to Silva, Fluminense is stacked with top-class players. Veteran midfielder Gansu is holding down the midfield, and 23-year-old rookie midfielder Martinelli, valued at €10 million (15.8 billion won), is teaming up with him. The frontline is led by Argentine striker Hermann Cano, who scored 14 goals in 23 appearances last season. Colombian player John Arias, known for his assists, recorded 3 goals and 12 assists in 28 matches last season.

There is an objective power difference between Ulsan and Fluminense. Nevertheless, the ball is round, and anything can happen in soccer. One interesting point is that Eric Parias, who is responsible for Ulsan's frontline, will face his home country.

Eric said, "I played 4-5 matches against Fluminense, including last year's League Cup. I know how excellent their individual skills are. Silva is definitely a legend, and Gansu is quality itself. Top players like goalkeeper Fabio are lined up. As everyone knows, it will not be an easy match due to their exceptional individual capabilities. Our Ulsan also has quality players. There are players who have played in the Premier League and the World Cup, and many who have thrived in other countries. We must treat every match as a final. We must focus because anything can happen. We must show the level of Korean football and Ulsan's competitiveness to the best of our abilities."

Junior, who was a key player in Ulsan's undefeated championship run in the 2020 AFC Champions League (currently ACLE), also expressed anticipation for the match against his former team, Fluminense.

Junior said, "Fluminense has many great players like Silva and Gansu. Brazilian players are technically excellent, but the intensity of their pressing is weak. We need to exploit that. Fluminense is a rival to my favorite team, Flamengo, so I will cheer for Ulsan. I know the strengths of the Korean team (activity level, strong pressing). If we can leverage those aspects, we might have a chance to beat Fluminense."

[OSEN]