PASADENA, USA – Brazilian champions Botafogo clinched a spot in the last 16 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Monday, despite a narrow 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid, who crashed out of the tournament due to goal difference.
Playing at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Atletico needed a sizeable win to stand any chance of advancing from Group B, following their earlier 4-0 drubbing by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Though they defeated Botafogo thanks to an 87th-minute strike from Antoine Griezmann, the result fell short of what was needed.
All three Group B teams — PSG, Botafogo, and Atletico — ended the group stage with six points, but Atletico’s inferior goal difference (-1) compared to PSG (+4) and Botafogo (+1) saw them eliminated despite winning two of their three games.
“It’s frustrating that we didn’t qualify — we had six points,” Atletico head coach Diego Simeone said post-match. “At the end of the day, we were punished because it wasn’t enough. I’m proud of my players. We played our hearts out.”
Botafogo, who had stunned PSG 1-0 in their previous outing, held off intense pressure from the Spanish side for most of the match. The South Americans, content with a draw or narrow defeat to advance, absorbed wave after wave of attacks under the scorching midday sun in front of 22,992 fans.
The match was decided in the closing moments when Julian Alvarez whipped in a low cross from the right that Griezmann rifled into the net. Despite the late winner, Atletico knew it wouldn’t be enough as word of PSG’s 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders filtered through from the other Group B fixture.
The first half saw flashes from both sides. Botafogo’s Jefferson Savarino tested Jan Oblak early on, while Atletico’s Alvarez came close but was denied by a timely deflection. A VAR check for a potential Atletico penalty before halftime was ruled out due to a foul in the build-up.
Botafogo nearly stole the lead midway through the second half when Igor Jesus volleyed goalwards, only for Oblak to make a sharp save. The Brazilians then held firm under relentless pressure until Griezmann’s late goal.
The result ends Atletico’s campaign at the group stage — a harsh fate after back-to-back wins — while Botafogo move on to face fellow Brazilian club Palmeiras in the Round of 16.
Group B Final Standings:
- Paris Saint-Germain – 6 pts (+4 GD)
- Botafogo – 6 pts (+1 GD)
- Atletico Madrid – 6 pts (–1 GD)
- Seattle Sounders – 0 pts
Botafogo and PSG now join the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus, and Inter Miami in what promises to be a thrilling knockout stage.
