The Curious Case of the Bottom 16

The dust has settled on the FIFA Club World Cup group stages, and while the top 16 battle for glory, the rest have been neatly (or not so neatly) ranked from 17th to 32nd. Let’s dive into this less glamorous but equally intriguing half of the tournament.

Atlético Madrid: The Underperforming Giant

At 17th place with 6 points but a -1 goal difference, Atlético Madrid’s performance raises eyebrows. For a team of their caliber, scraping into the bottom half is… let’s say, unexpected. Did Diego Simeone’s trademark defensive rigidity backfire? Or was it just bad luck? Either way, their fans won’t be singing “Olé” anytime soon.

The Middle of Nowhere: Teams 18-20

Mamelodi Sundowns (18th), River Plate (19th), and Salzburg (20th) all finished with 4 points, separated only by goal difference and goals scored. Sundowns edged out River Plate by one goal—proving that sometimes, it really does come down to who brought their shooting boots.

The Struggle Bus: Teams 21-32

Here’s where things get grim. Tunisian side Espérance (21st) managed 3 points but a -4 GD, while Al Ain (22nd) somehow conceded 10 more goals than they scored. Porto (23rd) and Boca Juniors (24th) both had 2 points and -1 GD—proof that even historic clubs can have off days (or weeks).

At the very bottom, Urawa Reds (32nd) finished with 0 points and a -7 GD. Ouch. To their credit, at least they didn’t pull an Oakland City (27th), who conceded sixteen more goals than they scored. That’s not a stat you want on your résumé.

Final Thoughts

While the spotlight shines on the tournament’s elite, the bottom 16 tell their own stories—of near misses, defensive disasters, and the harsh reality of international competition. For some, it’s a learning experience. For others… well, there’s always next year.