Inter Milan fights its way to its first victory in the Club World Cup!

Inter Milan fights its way to its first victory in the Club World Cup!

On June 21, 2025, Inter Milan achieved a hard-fought 2-1 victory in a thrilling match against Urawa Red Diamonds in the FIFA Club World Cup. After an early deficit thanks to a goal from Ryoma Watanabe in the 11th minute, the team led by Cristian Chivu, who took over as coach just a few weeks ago, was able to show off in the second half. Lautaro Martinez brought Inter back into the game with his equalizer in the 78th minute. In stoppage time, Valentin Carboni scored the winning goal, securing Inter three important points in their group, which now puts them on course for the round of 16. Inter previously drew 1-1 against CF Monterrey, meaning they currently have four points from two games.

What was crucial in the game? Although Inter had 83% possession in the first half and completed over 400 passes, they were faced with a well-organized defense from Urawa, who switched to a defensive six after the first goal. Despite nine shots on goal, Inter failed to create any clear chances in the first half. It was only in the second half that they increased the pressure and were ultimately able to turn things around.

The new coach and the challenges

The encounter marked Inter's 61st game of the season, a season that started after a costly 5-0 defeat in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Coach Simone Inzaghi is leaving the club and Cristian Chivu, a former player, is now taking over the dugout. Despite the challenges in the squad due to injuries, the team showed willpower and creativity to turn the game around and secure a good starting position for the coming games.

The FIFA Club World Cup under a new format

The FIFA Club World Cup, which has been played since 2000, will be played in a new format with 32 teams from 2025. This tournament replaces the previous system, which only allowed seven teams to compete for the title each year. The new mode, which is celebrating its debut in the USA, is intended to better represent different associations. This season teams like Manchester City are fighting for the crown as title holders and record winners Real Madrid.

The realignment of the Club World Cup includes, among other things, an expanded game mode in which the best two teams in each of the eight groups advance to the round of 16. The structure was created to increase appeal and viewership. Traditionally, the Club World Cup has taken place in various countries such as Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and the anticipation for the tournament is palpable internationally.

With the narrow victory over Urawa, Inter Milan are now ready to take the next step in this important competition. The next challenge is against River Plate and the fans are looking forward to the further development of their team in the Club World Cup.